There was an element of shock when Gabriel Jesus left Manchester City in 2022, but in his mind it had been coming for a few months.
There were just 25 days between Erling Haaland signing and Jesus' exit for Arsenal. While Haaland's arrival was the final nail in the coffin for Jesus, this was a decision already in the pipeline.
In fact, Jesus had decided to seek a new challenge the season prior, long before Haaland's signature was in the bag. And the breaking point was a team selection call that left Jesus in tears and on the phone to family back in Brazil. ALSO READ: Kevin De Bruyne injury latest vs Arsenal as Pep Guardiola provides update ALSO READ: 'Try to avoid' - Pep Guardiola faces one Arsenal worry he knows only too well Ironically, Jesus had spent years trying to become City's main central striker amid stiff competition from Sergio Aguero.
Yet when Aguero left, Jesus declared an ambition to play more on the wing, leaving City without a recognised striker before Haaland's arrival.