Gabriel
Jesus may be living the high life after emerging as one of the most exciting
young strikers in world football, but the Manchester City star's humble
beginnings are still fresh in the memory.
Standing
barefoot on a cobbled street in Sao Paulo, a 17-year-old Jesus was just another
youngster dreaming of playing in the yellow shirt of Brazil. He was, like many,
preparing for the World Cup to come to his homeland.
In a series
of photos posted on his social media account, the diminutive forward revealed
he was helping to paint the streets of his neighbourhood in patriotic colours
in preparation for the tournament just three years ago.
He would
have watched the World Cup play out on television with Brazil making their way
to the semi-final before a crushing 7-1 defeat by Germany in Belo Horizonte.
Little would
he have guessed that he would be favourite to lead the line when the Selecao have
another crack at winning their sixth World Cup in Russia just four years later.
Indeed, so
much has changed for Jesus in the time between these photos and the present
day. Then, he was just a youth player for local professional side Palmeiras and
earning the modest sum of just £3,500 a year.
Soon after,
his talents would be recognised and he would be thrust into the senior squad
only for Manchester City's South American scouting network to take notice and
alert a certain Pep Guardiola.
A £27million
move to the Etihad was agreed in August 2016 with his move going through the
following January. He signed a five-year deal with the Citizens worth £75,000 a
week, although his mother recently revealed she still controls his wage and hands
him pocket money each month.
It was clear
Manchester City had a major star on their hands when Jesus inspired Brazil to
the first Olympic gold medal in their history, scoring three goals in six games
to help to heal the damage caused by that devastating World Cup defeat.
Now a
fully-fledged Brazil international, Jesus has four goals in six caps for Tite's
Brazil side and will go to the World Cup next summer if he stays fit.
He is also
set to push seasoned star Sergio Aguero all the way for a starting spot in
Manchester City's line-up next season.
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