Barcelona risk losing Gabriel Jesus to their arch-rivals as Real Madrid have reportedly made a late bid for the Palmeiras starlet.
According to AS, Barca were closing in on Gabriel Jesus’ signature, with their South American intermediary Andre Cury and director Raul Sanllehi both in Brazil to close the deal, but Madrid have suddenly entered the fray and could yet trump the Catalans.
Los Blancos, like Barca, have agreed to pay the Palmeiras forward’s €24m release clause but are understood to have offered him “more money”, thus tipping the balance in the former’s favour.
However, the transfer is shaping up to be a Brazilian “classic” due to the fragmented nature of the 19-year-old’s ownership.
Fifty-five percent of Gabriel Jesus’ economic rights are owned by his agents, one of whom is possibly DIS – who had recently taken Barca to court over discrepancies in Neymar’s transfer from Santos – while Palmeiras own 30% and the player 15%.
Consequently, AS claims a further €10m would need to be shelled out in order to satisfy third-party commissions.
