Gabriel Jesus has revealed his “secret agent” role in convincing “his brother,” Oleksandr Zinchenko, to join Arsenal.
Both players departed from Manchester City to join Arsenal last summer, with Jesus being the initial transfer. Following that, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta and technical director Edu visited Zinchenko’s residence to negotiate his transfer.
Jesus told a news conference ahead of Arsenal’s Champions League game against PSV Eindhoven: “I was in Manchester, at home with my family and I was supposed to come to London the day after and come in by car.
“Edu just texted me and said they were going to Zinny’s house; if I want to come to join them to talk with Zin, then I come by plane. So I say, ‘OK.’ I went there and talked with him. He was surprised.
“If I helped a little bit and he took the decision to come, I am happy because I like him as a player, as a person. I treat him as a brother and I am very happy he came. He is playing good, playing every time and more than this, he is very happy, so I’m happy for him.
“I just said ‘Zina, you have to take a decision like I did and I am happy with this.’ He was a little bit ‘I don’t know, I need to talk with my wife first’ but he took the decision [to come]. I think if you ask him, it was the right decision.”
Pushed on how Zinchenko has described him as a “secret agent,” Jesus joked: “Yeah, he can give me some percent [of the money]!”