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Gabriel Jesus Shares Why He Declined Flamengo Before Joining Barcelona

Gabriel Jesus, the former Arsenal striker, has opened up about why he turned down an offer from Flamengo, choosing loyalty to Palmeiras instead, before completing his transfer to Barcelona. The 29-year-old forward moved to the Spanish club on deadline day after leaving north London.

Why Flamengo Wasn't an Option

Speaking on TV Bandeirantes, Jesus revealed that Flamengo, one of Brazil's top clubs based in Rio de Janeiro, reached out to bring him back home once it became clear that he was no longer a key part of Mikel Arteta’s plans at Arsenal. Despite earlier success at Manchester City, where he won several trophies, persistent injury problems at Arsenal limited his impact and led to speculation about his future across Europe and South America.

Strong Ties to Palmeiras

Jesus rose through the Palmeiras youth ranks between 2013 and 2015. During that period, he earned the 2015 Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A Best Newcomer award and helped secure the Copa do Brasil. In 2016, he received the Bola de Ouro as Palmeiras captured their first league title in over two decades. Over 83 appearances for Palmeiras, Jesus scored 28 goals and provided nine assists before heading to England.

He explained why he declined Flamengo’s approach: "They wanted to talk to me, but I politely said: I really appreciate the contact, but just as there are players from Flamengo's youth academy who want to come back, I’m also a product of Palmeiras' youth system." His roots with Palmeiras prevented him from considering a switch to Flamengo.

Palmeiras Remain His Only Brazilian Destination

Instead of returning to South America immediately, Jesus chose to stay in Europe by signing a three-year deal with Barcelona, keeping him there until June 2029. While he hasn’t set a date for returning home, he made it clear that Palmeiras would be his only option if he comes back to Brazil: "I am Palmeiras, my mind is Palmeiras, 100% Palmeiras in a possible return. I don’t know when."

Quick Impact at Barcelona

Since joining Barcelona, Jesus has quickly found his form. In eight appearances across all competitions during the 2026-27 season, he has scored four goals and assisted once. Maintaining fitness will be key for him as he aims to secure a regular spot in Barcelona’s attack and fight for trophies.

About the Author

Adhe has experience working with ESPN Star Sports, Fox Sports, and FIFA. His passion started with Manchester United, and he has covered Premier League and European football extensively for GOAL. One memorable moment was covering the Indonesia vs. Netherlands match at GBK in 2013 and unexpectedly meeting Radja Nainggolan in Sultan Agung Stadium, Bantul.

Adhe’s expertise includes:

  • In-depth knowledge of Indonesian and European football
  • Premier League analysis
  • Covering diverse editorial topics

His all-time best XI (4-1-2-3) consists of:

  • Goalkeeper: Edwin van der Sar
  • Defenders: Dani Alves, Paolo Maldini, Nemanja Vidic, Roberto Carlos
  • Defensive Midfielder: Roy Keane
  • Midfielders: Xavi, Paul Scholes
  • Forwards: Lionel Messi, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Cristiano Ronaldo

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