Bojan Krkic Sr on Gabriel Jesus: A Perfect Fit for Hansi Flick

Bojan Krkic Sr reveals he pushed hard for Gabriel Jesus long before the Brazilian became an Arsenal regular – and he is convinced the forward would be a perfect fit for Hansi Flick’s demands.

“I bet a lot on him. The reports were very good,” Bojan told Sport, explaining how he tracked Jesus closely during his Manchester City days. “I went to see him twice when he was at City and there was talk that he could leave, before he left for Arsenal. And it wasn’t just me.”

What caught his eye was not just the goals, but the way Jesus plays the position.

“He’s a very good player technically. He guides with both legs, drives the ball well and reacts very quickly in tight spaces.”

For Bojan, Jesus is the prototype of the modern, mobile No 9 – the kind of forward Flick craves.

“Gabriel Jesus is not a static centre-forward, he can appear in all areas of the area and also drop to the wing. And that is precisely what Hansi wants: that they constantly exchange positions,” he said. “The good thing about him is that he is very hardworking. He is a team player and works a lot on the first press. When he has to go to press, he really gets involved.”

The Brazilian’s movement and work without the ball, Bojan believes, set him apart.

“He has a lot of mobility, he messes up the defense, he offers passing lines, he presses and he associates. Gabriel perhaps gives you even more in that associative game,” he added, pointing to Jesus’ ability to link play and combine with teammates around the box.

For Bojan, everything about the situation screams chance to be seized.

“It’s a golden opportunity. He has a mentality, he is aggressive when he plays, he has a change of pace and quality to finish. He can be a great success for the club.”