Gabriel Jesus has said that Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola blocked his transfer to Arsenal.
In an interview with the Denilson Show, the £45 million (GOAL) man also admitted that it was a challenge working with the Spanish manager.
Now, Gabriel Jesus has lifted the lid on how Pep Guardiola delayed his eventual transfer to Arsenal.
Gabriel Jesus says Pep Guardiola blocked his transfer to Arsenal
It is clear to see that the Sky Blues and Jesus going their separate ways was best for all parties involved.
The Brazilian striker became the protagonist at the Etihad Stadium, while City managed to bring in a pair of lethal goalscorers in Erling Haaland and Julian Alvarez.
Now, Gabriel Jesus has reflected on how Pep Guardiola stopped him from joining Arsenal in the summer of 2021.
“It was going to be one year left on my contract, so you can see how things are, mid-season at my last season at City, in December, when there were some things left in the [transfer] window, Guardiola came to me before a game.”
Gabriel Jesus elaborated on how he felt Pep Guardiola blocked his move to Arsenal, saying, I thought, ‘he is going to talk about the game’ but then he said, ‘Arteta wants you there and etc’ but Arteta had told him at the beginning of the transfer window but he only told me at the end.”
“And I would not go, because it was mid-season, I’d not go but he told me and said, ‘I’d not like you to go, I like you a lot and don’t want you to go but you have to know.’
Pep Guardiola had to keep the Brazilian at the time
While Gabriel Jesus may rightly have felt puzzled by discovering that Pep Guardiola did not inform him about the interest from Arsenal in him, it can also be acknowledged that he had no choice.
Throughout the same summer, Manchester City had focused on signing Harry Kane after Sergio Aguero’s exit, as he ended up joining Barcelona.
However, the move failed to come to fruition and City had no natural strikers at their disposal.
As a result, Guardiola had to ensure that at least Jesus stayed put for another season before the club found a replacement for him in the following campaign.
