Gabriel Jesus opens up on controversial Arsenal exit
Brazilian forward Gabriel Jesus claims Arsenal forced him to train alone before his summer move to Barcelona.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Author: Granada
Former Arsenal forward Gabriel Jesus has shared unpleasant details regarding his move to Barcelona. The 29-year-old Brazilian revealed that he was forced to train away from the main group during the final days of the summer transfer window, despite having completed the entire pre-season with the team.
The truth is that I spent the entire pre-season with Arsenal as usual. I already knew that I probably wouldn't play as much or wouldn't have enough opportunities. But nobody told me anything. I'm a professional, I was training with the group, and suddenly they put me to train separately. Gabriel Jesus
Jesus spent four years in North London, scoring 32 goals in 123 matches, though he lost his starting role during the last championship season. The situation led to him being left out of the squad for the opening Premier League matches against Coventry City and Aston Villa.
The transfer to the Catalan club was finalized on deadline day for a fee of up to 15 million euros. Jesus signed a three-year contract, praising the work of his agent and the Barcelona board. The forward has already made his debut for his new club, coming off the bench in a 5-0 victory over Valencia.