Gabriel Jesus has dropped a strong hint about his preferred destination if he leaves Arsenal this summer, expressing his admiration for Italian football and Serie A. The 29-year-old Brazil international is entering the final year of his contract at the Emirates and has been linked with a move away after falling down the pecking order at the club.
Jesus opens up on Serie A dream
Speaking to Italian publication Gazzetta dello Sport, Jesus revealed his long-standing affection for Italian football. 'I grew up watching Serie A and dreamed of playing in Italy,' he said. 'Scoring two goals at San Siro against Inter was like making that dream come true. I don't know my future, I'm working now and we'll see what happens with Arsenal.'
The forward referenced his impressive performance in Arsenal's 3-1 win over Inter Milan in January, where he scored twice. That match clearly left a lasting impression on the player, who has made no secret of his desire for more regular football.
Limited game time at Arsenal
Jesus has struggled with injuries during his four seasons at Arsenal, which has limited his appearances. Last season, he made just 14 Premier League appearances and 27 in all competitions, scoring six goals. Viktor Gyokeres and Kai Havertz were largely sharing the centre-forward duties, restricting Jesus to a bit-part role.
The former Manchester City striker admitted he wants to play more often. 'I have a beautiful family and I'm grateful for that. Everyone says I get hurt a lot, but now I'm doing great. I want to play. I know that if I had more minutes, I could do better,' he said.
Arsenal open to sale
The Athletic reported last week that Arsenal are open to letting Jesus leave this summer but are demanding up to £20 million for him. The report confirmed that 'multiple clubs have enquired' about the forward, although his injury record may deter some suitors.
Given his experience with 64 Brazil caps and his age (he turned 29 in April), there is likely to be interest at that price. Jesus has also previously expressed a desire to return to Brazil and play for Palmeiras again, but in December he said he felt he had 'unfinished business' at Arsenal.
'One day, I would love for everything to come full circle with Palmeiras, but not today. I feel that I have unfinished business at Arsenal. I don't want to leave,' he said at the time. However, with his contract winding down and limited playing time, a summer exit now appears increasingly likely.
