Mikel Arteta said: very surprised » by the statements surrounding the departure of Gabriel Jesus to FC Barcelona. After his transfer to Catalonia, the Brazilian striker said that “ no one said anything to him » regarding his departure from Arsenal. A version disputed by his former coach, who claims to have personally spoken with him. “ With Gabi, I had an individual discussion in the locker room. I don’t know what words were reported, but what we said to each other was mostly one of gratitude. “, explained Arteta at a press conference. The Spaniard nevertheless recognizes that announcing to a player that he is no longer part of the plans can cause misunderstanding: “ Sometimes when you have to deliver bad news or something the person isn’t expecting, someone has to play the wrong role. If it has to be me, then it will be me. »
Arteta now prefers to look at the relationship he will maintain with Jesus in the long term rather than the tensions linked to his departure. “ What’s important is what happens three months or six months later “, he continued, taking the example of Leandro Trossard, recently returned to the Gunners locker room during a match against Chelsea. “ Thank God, with all the players who left, relations remained very good. I hope that will be the case too. » Gabriel Jesus left Arsenal this summer to sign until 2029 at Barça, where he arrived to succeed Robert Lewandowski after a final season in London disrupted by a serious knee injury.
