Gabriel Jesus officially becomes a Manchester City player on January 1, but what will the £27m Brazilian bring to the Premier League?
Gabriel Jesus may not be a household name in England, but he arrives at Manchester City with glowing references from Brazil. Pele has described the 19-year-old as a better player than Neymar, and there was high praise from Romario after he played with Jesus in a charity game last month.
"For what he has done in a Palmeiras shirt and in a Brazil shirt, I can say that he is going to be our next great No 9," he said. "He's a boy, he's only starting out, but he's already getting there and he's a hard-working kid. For the next World Cup, if all goes well, we will be very happy with our attack."
Jesus followed in Pele and Romario's footsteps when he won the Brasileirao's Golden Ball award for his efforts in firing Palmeiras to the 2016 title. The teenager scored 12 goals and added five assists over the course of 27 appearances, breaking into the national team in the process.
His performances on the international stage have been outstanding. Brazil were in dire straits before their coach Tite turned to Jesus in September. The summer's Copa America had ended in embarrassment, and their World Cup qualifying campaign seemed to be heading the same way.
Gabriel Jesus celebrates a goal during Brazil triumphant Olympic Games campaign
But since the teenager was brought into the team after helping Brazil's U23s to gold at the Olympic Games, they have won six consecutive games and climbed to the top of the South American qualifying group.
Jesus has been a revelation in high-pressure circumstances, scoring five goals in his first six starts and easing the burden on Neymar. In the space of a few months, he has become an idol in his homeland.
All the while, City have been watching. Jesus chose Pep Guardiola's side over the likes of Real Madrid and Barcelona in August, and the £27m newcomer has already received a warm welcome. He was taken to a dinner by Guardiola, Fernando and Fernandinho earlier this month, and he was pictured at the Etihad Stadium during City's 3-1 defeat to Chelsea.
With Jesus available for selection from January 1 onwards, attention is now turning to what exactly this great hope of Brazilian football will bring on the pitch. It's an exciting prospect.
Jesus is the kind of player who gets fans off their seats, with his blistering acceleration and natural flair making him a formidable proposition in one-on-ones. His trickery is likely to make him popular among Premier League viewers, and he also boasts predatory finishing ability, with a level of composure that defies his tender years.
Brazil's Gabriel Jesus celebrates a recent goal against Peru
Usurping Sergio Aguero as City's first-choice striker is an unenviable task, but Jesus can also play on the flanks. That versatility will be crucial to Guardiola, and while Jesus' speed and technical ability are his stand-out qualities, he has other attributes which suggest he will be a good fit for his new side.
"I like to define myself as a fighter on the pitch," Jesus recently toldFourFourTwo. "I like to be aggressive, trying to go forward. Since my early days I've been used to playing with older boys and strong defenders. I'm not scared of tough tacklers. I want to win - I'll fight to make sure we do."
Grit and aggression are not traits typically associated with Brazilian strikers in the Premier League, but Jesus is certainly a fiery character. Only two players in the Brasileirao received more than his 11 bookings last season. And while it's a record which raises questions of his discipline, it also shows he is unlikely to be bullied in the uncompromising environment of the Premier League.
Gabriel Jesus shows his frustration during a Palmeiras game last season
His tenacity will be key for Guardiola. Furious off-the-ball pressing is a fundamental element of the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich manager's philosophy, with forwards instructed to win the ball back in dangerous areas high up the pitch.
It has taken some time for Aguero to adapt to those demands, but Jesus is unlikely to have the same problems. In fact, the stats show that only one player won possession in the final third more times than Jesus in the Brasileirao last season. It's a detail that is unlikely to have gone unnoticed by Guardiola.
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