The Manchester City boss has been keeping tabs on the young Brazilian during the Olympics and he has suggested he will be able to make an immediate impact
Pep Guardiola is looking forward to getting his hands on promising Brazil striker Gabriel Jesus, and says Manchester City can help him live up to the pressure of emulating Neymar.
The Blues have already clinched a £27 million deal for the 19-year-old but have let him stay at boyhood club Palmeiras until the completion of the Brazilian championship at the end of the year.
Jesus could even stay in Brazil well into next year if his club, who are currently top of the table, clinch a place in the Copa Libertadores.
But Guardiola says he likes what he has seen of the youngster, who will dispute the Olympic final for his country against Germany on Saturday evening, and suggests he will be ready to make an immediate contribution at the Etihad Stadium.
The Blues have already clinched a £27 million deal for the 19-year-old but have let him stay at boyhood club Palmeiras until the completion of the Brazilian championship at the end of the year.
Jesus could even stay in Brazil well into next year if his club, who are currently top of the table, clinch a place in the Copa Libertadores.
But Guardiola says he likes what he has seen of the youngster, who will dispute the Olympic final for his country against Germany on Saturday evening, and suggests he will be ready to make an immediate contribution at the Etihad Stadium.
"He is little bit like Kelechi, Sergio," Guardiola said on Friday. "When the ball is there, it’s a goal. He has the sense of goal. So we buy goals, that’s not easy today. And he's a guy who makes real movements behind the line. When you have the players like [Raheem] Sterling, Jesus [Navas], these players going behind the line, it can create more space in the middle.
"Without the movement of the strikers, the movement behind the line, you cannot find the players in the middle. He’s a young player, can play on the wing with good movements to the goal."
Jesus, almost inevitably, has already been likened to countryman Neymar thanks to a number of fine performances in his homeland.
And while Guardiola says that moniker of "the new Neymar" is sure to be a hindrance, he believes City can offer the perfect place for him to realise his potential.
"Without the movement of the strikers, the movement behind the line, you cannot find the players in the middle. He’s a young player, can play on the wing with good movements to the goal."
Jesus, almost inevitably, has already been likened to countryman Neymar thanks to a number of fine performances in his homeland.
And while Guardiola says that moniker of "the new Neymar" is sure to be a hindrance, he believes City can offer the perfect place for him to realise his potential.
"I hear most of the players are the new Messi!" Guardiola added. "I know it doesn’t help him. Neymar is already a player. For Jesus, it’s the first time he goes to Europe, but here is going to find a good environment, quiet, to work every day, there will not be a lot of problems. We will be there to help him. If he wants to be helped, we are going to help him."
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