Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti is pushing the club to move for Manchester City striker Gabriel Jesus this summer.
Ancelotti led the Spanish giants to their 35th La Liga title before defeating Liverpool in the Champions League final during a dazzling season. However, they missed out on the signing of Kylian Mbappe, who opted to pen a three-year contract extension with Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain.
It means he will not be joining Real Madrid on a free transfer this summer, as many had expected, with suggestions that he had given his word to the Spanish giants that he would be arriving at the Santiago Bernabeu. It comes less than a year after the French club rejected a world-record transfer offer from Los Blancos for the striker, whose previous contract at the Parc des Princes had been set to expire on 30 June.
Real Madrid are now searching for alternatives in attack and City forward Jesus is well liked within the club. President Florentino Perez and general manager Jose Angel Sanchez have him as an option to sign this summer, but Ancelotti is pushing particularly hard for the player.
When the Brazilian joined City in January 2017, he also had attracted strong interest from Real Madrid - led by Perez and Sanchez - and Bayern Munich, who were coached by Ancelotti at the time. The Italian has retained a strong interest in the player since.
Jesus is about to enter the final year of his contract at the Etihad Stadium and the club are willing to cash in on him this summer. Strikers Erling Haaland and Julian Alvarez have already been signed by City this summer, which has further pushed the Brazilian down the pecking order at the club.
The 25-year-old started just 21 Premier League matches last term and has never started more than 22 top-flight fixtures in a single season, leaving him desiring more first-team football. A move to Madrid would link him up with fellow Brazilians Rodrygo, Vinicius Junior and Eder Militao.
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Reports from Spain have now highlighted how Madrid’s interest in the striker is real and they see him as an option for joining their squad next summer. That would disrupt Arsenal ’s transfer plans – the Gunners are keen to add Jesus to their ranks, with Eddie Nketiah the only recognised striker in their senior squad.
Jesus joined City from Brazilian club Palmeiras in 2017 and has bagged 95 goals across 236 first-team appearances. However, despite the exit of Sergio Aguero and lack of immediate investment in the striker position at the club, he failed to gain an undisputed starting role in Pep Guardiola’s side.
