Manchester City’s Unfulfilled Heir: The Gabriel Jesus Story

Manchester City’s domination of English football in recent years has been built on the backs of legendary players. While current stars like Kevin De Bruyne and Kyle Walker continue to shine, past icons such as Vincent Kompany and David Silva were instrumental in establishing City’s reign. However, perhaps no player embodied City’s rise more than Sergio Aguero.

Aguero’s impact at City was immense. Over 390 appearances, he scored a club record 260 goals and provided 64 assists. His consistency was remarkable, netting 20+ Premier League goals in five different seasons. Aguero’s iconic last-minute title-winning goal against QPR in 2012 cemented his place in City folklore.

When Aguero’s time at City was nearing its end, the club believed they had already secured his successor in Gabriel Jesus. Signed for £27 million in 2016, Jesus was touted as one of world football’s most exciting prospects. City’s director of football, Txiki Begiristain, declared: “Gabriel is one of the most exciting young attackers in world football and plays the game in a spectacular way.”

Despite high expectations, Jesus never quite filled Aguero’s shoes. His Premier League record for City was solid but unspectacular: 58 goals and 31 assists in 159 games over six seasons. While manager Pep Guardiola praised Jesus as “the best striker in the world” at one point, the Brazilian failed to consistently replicate Aguero’s goalscoring feats.

In 2022, City decided to cash in on Jesus, selling him to Arsenal for £45 million – an £18 million profit. At Arsenal, Jesus has continued to show flashes of brilliance but has yet to become the prolific scorer many expected.

In retrospect, Jesus’ time at City remains somewhat of an enigma. While part of multiple title-winning sides, his contributions often left fans wanting more. City supporters may look back with a tinge of regret that Jesus didn’t develop into the natural successor to their beloved Aguero.