Madrid's Perez attempts to torpedo Barça's move for Gabriel Jesus
Florentino Perez is incorrigible. With the arrogance of his checkbook as his flag, the Real Madrid president has entered the fight for the signing of Gabriel Jesus. The formula used is well-known. It is the same one that he used in 2013 when he failed to sign Neymar Jr - pay the full release clause and then pay commissions left, right and centre.
The Italian super agent, Giovanni Branchini, who represents the Palmeiras player in Europe arrived in Sao Paulo on Friday with the succulent offer from Madrid under his arm. The value of the operation would be around 35 million euros. Madrid aren't thinking about negotiating the release clause, which is 24 million euros for them and four other European clubs, and would even offer a six million bonus to the player and five million in commission to his agents. On top of that, you have to add a far superior wage to the one Barcelona and other European clubs are ready to pay.
Perez has been informed that Gabriel Jesus in the 'New Neymar' and, this time, he doesn't want to miss out. The young star has a lot of qualities, but he can't be compared with Neymar, who signed a new deal with Barça on Friday until 2021. Neymar, at the same age (19), had already driven Santos to the Copa Libertadores, the toughest and most prestigious tournament in South America. Perez has still not been able to digest that he signed for Barça and has tried to rob him from Camp Nou on several occasions.
Madrid have joined the race for Gabriel Jesus late. There had been reports on the player for a few months, but they hadn't made it as far as the all-powerful president. It has been the interest from Bayern Munich and Juventus, but mainly from Barça, though, which has at last awakened Los Blancos to the teenager's talents.
SPORT have learned that, following instruction from Perez, Madrid's general director Jose Angel Sanchez has got to work and movements have now resulted in a firm offer for the player. What at first could have seemed like a game to force the price up for Barça, as of now, has translated into an all-out offensive to sign Gabriel Jesus.
Perez doesn't carry a lot of weight in Brazil due to his alliance with the agent Wagner Riberio. He endorsed the signing of Robinho for a golden price (30 million euros) when no other big European team wanted him and Perez took the bait, believing he was the 'New Pele'. Later, Ribeiro reacted late to Alexandre Pato, who eventually signed for AC Milan from Porto Alegre. And everyone knows what has happened with Neymar and the dark arts used by the agent to try and help Madrid.
Now it is Gabriel Jesus who is the player in demand, but Perez has arrived late. He has not contacted the player, something which Barça, through Raul Sanllehi, have done, and he's trying to reduce any delays and get to the front of the queue by paying over the odds.
If Bayern, Juventus and Barcelona have worked on the signing of the Palmeiras player for months, planning their strategies, Perez has gone out on whim. As he plans to sell Alvaro Morata, he's hoping to sign a player with the potential to be a star, but Gabriel Jesus would need time to adapt and explode. Which is what Barça are willing to give him.
