Football
ESPN staff 8y

'Golden boy' Gabriel Jesus will be a star at Manchester City - Cuca

Palmeiras coach Cuca has backed Gabriel Jesus to take the Premier League by storm when he joins new club Manchester City after the end of the Brazilian domestic campaign.

Jesus, 19, has signed a contract with Pep Guardiola's side but will stay with Palmeiras till the end of the season, after a successful Olympic tournament with Brazil.

With 26 goals in 71 matches for Palmeiras, Jesus continued to deliver the goods alongside Neymar, with three goals in Rio to help the South Americans clinch their first-ever Olympic men's football title earlier this month.

"He is 19 years old, will turn 20 and will learn a lot over the course of time. He has the essentials. He likes contact, combines explosiveness with speed," Cuca told SporTV.

"In a one-on-one he does very well. It is difficult to find such a player.

"Credit to Gabriel because he wanted to stay [at Palmeiras until the end of the season]. If he wanted to leave, he would have. I am very happy with his professionalism.

"He gives his life in games and in training he does the same thing.

"He's a golden boy, and no doubt will take off further in his career because he is a great professional."

City fans' first chance of watching their new star in action will be when Jesus makes his expected senior debut for Brazil in their World Cup qualifiers against Ecuador and Colombia later this week.

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