Gabriel Jesus may look every inch the football superstar, with his eyebrows groomed to within an inch of their lives, but when all the packaging is removed, he’s just a 21 year old from São Paulo who is looking to find his place in the world and discover all he can about himself.
And to do that, he needs his family close.
Some youngsters thrive away from their family and wouldn’t dream of having them around constantly, but Gabriel is different and it helps his football if his mother and other close family members are with him in Manchester.
After a difficult period, the Brazilian scored twice against Everton at the weekend, winning the match for his Manchester City side.
A few days before he’d told the Brazilian media about his family returning to England.
“Of course this year is not being easy for me. But, like I said, I’m happy again. My family arrived. I’m very happy, very happy.
“We have to keep the psychological side very strong. I think unfortunately I could not do that. Now, as I said, I go back, talking to my family, to my mother, to the people who are with me. I think this is helping me a lot to regain my confidence, to resume my football. And I think things are going to get better from now on.”
He was right. Those two goal saw Gabriel Jesus named in Gazzetta dello Sport‘s European Team of the Week, in a front three with Lionel Messi and Antoine Griezmann either side of him.
