Gabriel Jesus has hinted at a potential move to Italy, expressing his admiration for Serie A as his future at Arsenal remains uncertain. The 29-year-old Brazilian striker, who has been hampered by injuries during his four seasons with the Gunners, is entering the final year of his contract and is reportedly available for transfer.
Jesus opens up about Serie A dream
In an interview with Italian publication Gazzetta dello Sport, Jesus spoke about his childhood aspirations of playing in Italy. "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 scored twice in Arsenal's 3-1 win over Inter Milan in January, a performance he described as fulfilling a lifelong ambition. His comments come amid reports that Arsenal are open to letting him leave this summer, with the club seeking up to £20 million for his transfer.
Limited playing time at Arsenal
Jesus has struggled for regular minutes this season, falling behind Viktor Gyokeres and Kai Havertz in the pecking order for the centre-forward role. He made only 14 Premier League appearances and 27 in all competitions, scoring six goals. The Brazil international, who has 64 caps for his country, turned 29 in April.
According to The Athletic, Arsenal are willing to sell Jesus but want a fee of up to £20 million. The report also states that "multiple clubs have enquired" about the striker, though his injury record may deter some potential suitors.
Jesus wants more playing time
Jesus has made it clear that he desires a more prominent role on the pitch. "The best moment," he said of his life. "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."
Earlier in December, Jesus had hinted at a potential return to Brazil to play for Palmeiras, but also expressed a desire to stay at Arsenal. "One day, I would love for everything to come full circle with Palmeiras, but not today," he said. "I feel that I have unfinished business at Arsenal. I don't want to leave."
With his contract set to expire in 2027, Arsenal may look to cash in on Jesus this summer rather than risk losing him for free. The striker's future remains uncertain, but his latest comments suggest a move to Serie A could be on the cards.
