Moving from the Brazilian top flight to the Premier League isn’t an easy to transition to make.
The Premier League is played at a furious pace, and there’s a depth of quality unlike anywhere else in the world. It’s an unforgiving environment for those who lack the necessary mettle to succeed.
That’s why Gabriel Jesus’s start to life as a Manchester City player has been so impressive. He’s just 20, joined midway through the season and suffered an injury a few games into his Blues career – yet he finished the campaign with a burgeoning reputation. This, most people believe, is a special player.
In many ways, he’s a typical Brazilian, one capable of moments of individual brilliance and extreme skill, but he also has a physical edge that makes him particularly suited to English football. He likes a scrap and will work diligently when his team don’t have possession of the ball, something Pep Guardiola has openly praised.
His stats make for impressive reading. He played 11 times, scored seven goals and assisted four more. He created an average of one clear chance per game for his teammates and registered an 81 per cent pass completion rate. His confidence is underlined by his desire to shoot (on average, he takes 2.1 shots per game).
He is a creative force and a finisher; the complete modern-day forward.
Jesus is one of a number of talented young attacking players in the City squad and watching them develop in tandem over the next few seasons will be fascinating.
