Arsenal striker Gabriel Jesus has his heart set on a reunion with boyhood club Palmeiras, but believes it “doesn’t make sense” for him to leave the Gunners after the club supported him through his recovery from ACL surgery.
The Brazilian has recently returned to training after spending several months on the sidelines recovering from an ACL injury picked up in January.
He has struggled for fitness throughout his time with the club, making 96 appearances since moving from Man City in 2022.
Jesus, 28, has made no secret of his desire to one day return to boyhood club Palmeiras, but said he is in no hurry to leave north London.
"Coming back from such a complex surgery, it doesn't make sense for me to leave Arsenal now,” he told Brazilian outlet Revista Placar.
He continued, insisting that he has not held talks with Palmeiras despite the mutual interest in a reunion. Speaking in October, the Verdao president Leila Pereira made a public plea for the four-time Premier League winner to “come home.”
Jesus went on: "I've never had contact with another club, and my desire, as I say, is to return to Palmeiras, and Palmeiras ' desire is for me to return to Palmeiras.
"When I feel it's time to return to Palmeiras, I'll decide that with Arsenal, but we're talking about a player who's been out for nine months and is now fighting to get back into the team, and there are journalists who are talking without any basis whatsoever.”
After returning to training at Colney, though, Jesus said he is dreaming of a Selecao call-up ahead of the 2026 World Cup, for which Brazil have already qualified.
He faced heavy criticism after going goalless in five appearances at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, though, and said the chastisement was fair despite feeling the team’s tactics did not play to his strengths.
Asked what he would have done differently in Russia, he said: “I will always be dedicated and help the team, but today, with more experience, I would risk another shot, stay a little longer in the area to see if a ball would come my way.
“If I had scored a goal, I believe many things would have been different.
“There was a game where I ran about 14 kilometres. These are things that aren't as important to the outside world as a goal, and I agree, a No9 has to score goals.
“I didn't, and the criticism was fair. However, I think that when the criticism becomes something more serious, I don't agree.”
© The Standard Ltd