Barcelona turned to Gabriel Jesus as a contingency after concluding that prying Julian Álvarez from Atlético Madrid this summer would prove impossible. The Brazilian striker completed his move from Arsenal for an initial €10 million, with contact between the clubs beginning at least a week before the deal’s announcement, according to Mundo Deportivo.
Why Álvarez pursuit stalled while Jesus became viable
Barça’s hierarchy—Joan Laporta, Deco, and manager Hansi Flick—remained aligned on landing Álvarez throughout the window. The Atlético Madrid forward was willing to leave. Yet Miguel Ángel Gil Marín’s refusal to negotiate created an impasse that seemed unbreakable within the summer’s timeframe.
With uncertainty threatening to leave Flick without a recognised centre-forward, Barcelona shifted focus. Club officials systematically canvassed the available market before approaching Jesus to gauge his interest. His response was immediate acceptance.
A decade-delayed Barcelona return
Jesus had long carried an unrequited wish to wear a Barça shirt. In 2016, he stood on the brink of joining the club when Manchester City intercepted the move, diverting him to England instead. That unfinished chapter made the 2024 opportunity especially attractive.
His standing at Arsenal further sweetened the prospect. Mikel Arteta’s pecking order placed Kai Havertz and Viktor Gyökeres ahead of Jesus in the striker hierarchy, meaning the 27-year-old was surplus to requirements and available for departure.
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The medical hurdle that nearly derailed everything
One significant barrier remained: Jesus’s knee injury history demanded rigorous scrutiny. Barcelona’s medical team consulted the English doctors who had overseen his previous knee treatment, seeking comprehensive feedback before committing funds.
That consultation proved decisive. The assessment provided sufficient confidence to proceed, transforming the deal from risky speculation into a viable signing. Barcelona ultimately committed the €10 million upfront fee once the medical green light arrived, securing a player who ticked every essential requirement: availability, genuine interest, and positional fit for Flick’s system.
