Brazil’s leading publications are reporting that Real Madrid will beat Barcelona in the race to sign Palmeiras starlet Gabriel Jesus.
According to Lance and Globoesporte, Palmeiras sporting director Alexandre Mattos is in Spain to speak to the Madrid hierarchy – in stark contrast to the approach taken by Barca, who preferred to hold talks in Brazil.
It is said that Los Blancos entered the fray “at the last moment”, prompting the outlets to claim “Gabriel Jesus points to Madrid”.
Madrid would pay Palmeiras €24m for the 19-year-old, plus a further €10m in the way of commissions to agents.
However, Gabriel Jesus is required to stay with his current club until December 4, when the Brasileirao campaign ends, as he is bidding to win the League title and become the division’s youngest-ever top goalscorer.
The attacker, who will represent Brazil at the Olympic Games next month, may also stay at Palmeiras for another year-and-a-half, meaning he may not be a Madrid player until the summer of 2018.
