Gabriel Jesus has revealed that he wants to re-join boyhood club Palmeiras when his time at Arsenal comes to an end.
Jesus, 28, is yet to feature for the Premier League table-toppers this season as he continues to recover from an anterior cruciate ligament injury (ACL) in his knee, which he sustained in January.
Viktor Gyokeres has been leading the line in his absence, and with the Brazilian’s contract at the Emirates set to expire in 2027, rumours have been swirling regarding his future at the club.
Amidst the ongoing speculation, Jesus has opened up about his desire to return to Brazil and his former club, Palmeiras, but only when the time is right to leave the Gunners.
‘I’ve never had contact with another club, and my desire, as I say, is to return to Palmeiras, and Palmeiras’ desire is for me to return to Palmeiras,’ Jesus said.
‘When I feel it’s time to return to Palmeiras, I’ll decide that with Arsenal, but we’re talking about a player who’s been out for nine months and is now fighting to get back into the team, and there are journalists who are talking without any basis whatsoever.’
Gabriel Jesus has two years left on his deal at Arsenal but has now opened up on his future
Jesus wants to return to former club Palmeiras when he eventually leaves the Gunners
Jesus spent his academy days at Palmeiras before two impressive seasons in the senior team, where he caught the eye of Manchester City.
Five years and four Premier League titles followed in the north west before a move to the nation’s capital beckoned in 2022.
However, now into his fourth season in red, things have not gone entirely to plan with Jesus at Arsenal. Due to a string of serious injuries, the striker has only made 96 appearances for the club, scoring 26 goals.
Regardless, Jesus has previously stated that he has no intention of leaving the Gunners before the expiry of his contract.
‘Every day, the [Arsenal] coach and the board say they’re eager for my return,’ he told ESPN last month.
‘I don’t see myself outside the club’s plans. I have a contract until 2027, and if it’s not renewed by then, I’ll be at the club at least until 2027.’
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has also made it clear that Jesus remains part of his plans this season when he returns to full fitness.
Arteta said: ‘[He is] a player that is very unpredictable, full of energy, super competitive, a player that comes from a context of difficulty in the last few seasons for various nasty injuries.
Jesus has been out of action since January after injuring his ACL against Manchester United
‘So the level of hunger and desire that he’s going to bring to the team is going to be amazing.
‘So I’m thrilled to have him, I think he’s going to add something extra to the team that we don’t have and make sure that very soon we see him on that pitch making an impact for the team.
‘We haven’t had them [all fit] and now we don’t have Viktor, and we haven’t had Kai again for three months or many forwards, and unfortunately, that’s becoming something that consistently is happening. So we need those options, and what an option to have with Gabi.’
