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This Manchester City Youngster’s Performances Has Emulated Barcelona Superstar Neymar – A Great Player For The Future?

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Manchester City secured the services of South America’s most promising youngster Gabriel Jesus during the summer transfer window, and from the look of things, it’s one of their best transfer deals so far despite the Brazilian having not kicked a ball for them.

The teenage sensation will link up with his new teammates by January having agreed to a 4-year deal worth £27 million (plus add-ons), and his talents and abilities have gone to show why Guardiola made every effort and underwent a lot of stress to sign him. All the top sides provided stiff competition for the services of the Palmeiras striker, and many football followers wondered why he was signed in advance by City.

Gabriel Jesus had all eyes on him, and wasn’t only under the pressure to show the watching world exactly why Manchester City forked out quite a fortune to land him, he also had to put in worthy performances akin to those a younger Neymar (who at a time was the most talented prodigy on the footballing continent) produced to emerge as one of the most-sought-after Brazilian players of all time.

And thus far, Gabriel hasn’t disappointed. His first big test came on one of the biggest stages at the Rio Olympics in summer. Alongside Neymar and Gabigol, the young striker was saddled with the responsibility of doing the “impossible” – winning the country’s first-ever Olympic gold in the male football event.

A woeful start into the start of the campaign which saw Brazil play out goalless draws in their first 2 group fixtures against South Africa and Iraq, threatened to end the hosts mission before it even began, with Gabriel Jesus coming under harsh criticisms from the local media having fired blanks in both encounters and missing some clear-cut chances.

Rio Olympics - Brazil vs Japan football friendly

It didn’t take long for the youngster to redeem himself, though. Breaking the duck with a goal in a 4 nil thrashing of Denmark helped silence the critics, and fears were quickly allayed over Gabriel’s capability to really excel in a bigger climate such as the EPL’s. He would later go on to bag a brace in the 6 – 0 walloping of Honduras in the semis, and his part in the overall success of the team can’t be underestimated.

Off that form and achievements, he got called up to the national team by Tite having missed Dunga’s Copa América Centenario final squad earlier in the year because of a lack of a U.S. visa. Upon making his senior team debut, Gabriel Jesus continued to show why Manchester City weren’t wrong to fight for his services by putting in a man of the match performance. He had a hand in all of Brazil’s goals against Ecuador in the 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualification game by getting a brace and notching an assist.

During the last international break, Gabriel’s goalscoring prowess for the national team continued as he bagged a goal against Bolivia and Venezuela to help put Brazil at the top of the South American Football Confederation 10-man group of the World Cup qualifiers.

Not only has he shown why he is capable of being the next Neymar, Gabriel Jesus’ exploits in front of goal since becoming a Manchester City player (in advance) have proven he no doubt has a great future with the Etihad outfit. Pep Guardiola would be glad he made that phone call in July that helped convince the whizkid to sign for his side, the Catalan is definitely eager for January to come. The football world too is.