Newly signed FC Barcelona forward Gabriel Jesus spoke publicly for the first time after his signing from Arsenal FC. The Catalans bought him for a cut-rate price, rumored to be starting at 10 million euro and rising up to 14 million with bonuses, after the player suffered multiple injuries that took him down the pecking order in London.
It’s not just the transfer fee that went down in price, though.
“I did take a significant pay cut, but for me, this is a dream,” the forward said. “It wasn’t just me;
Barça made a huge effort to make this signing happen.”
He was reportedly making around 300,000 euros per week at Arsenal. That massive salary would have put him among the highest-paid five or so players for Barça.
More specific numbers have yet to be released, but for comparison’s sake, Ferran Torres, whom Jesus has replaced in a way, reportedly earned around 200,000 euros a week. Jesus himself was said to have earned a bit over 100,000 per week while at Manchester City.
Despite worries about muscular and knee injuries, the forward projected calm.
“I’m doing very well – physically, I’m in great shape. My knee is no longer an issue. The situation regarding the injury is clear. The last two years have been very difficult; the knee injury kept me out for almost a year. I recovered really well and returned to playing at a high level with Arsenal. My knee and my body are in good shape and ready to give my best,” he said.
