Key reason why Barcelona turned to Gabriel Jesus after missing out on Julian Alvarez

Key reason why Barcelona turned to Gabriel Jesus after missing out on Julian Alvarez Barcelona had a backup plan ready before their pursuit of Julian Alvarez reached its final stage, and that preparation ultimately led them to Gabriel Jesus. The Brazilian joined Barça from Arsenal for an initial €10 million in a deal that appeared to come together almost out of nowhere.  In reality, though, contact over a possible move had started at least a week earlier, according to sources from Mundo Deportivo . Barcelona had remained committed to the idea of signing Alvarez right until the end of the window.  The Atletico Madrid striker was keen on the move, while Joan Laporta, Deco and Hansi Flick were aligned on the desire to bring him to Catalonia. But there was also an acceptance within the club that reaching an agreement with Atletico this summer would be extremely difficult because of Miguel Angel Gil Marin’s position. Barcelona tried to sign Gabriel Jesus in 2016. (Photo by Matthias Hangst/Getty Images) That is where Jesus entered the picture. Barcelona needed someone on priority Rather than allow the uncertainty surrounding Alvarez to leave Flick without a recognised number 9, Barcelona began exploring alternatives. After exploring several market opportunities, Jesus was approached to understand whether he would consider the move, and the answer was an immediate yes. The Brazilian had long wanted to play for Barcelona. In fact, he had the chance to join the club in 2016 , but Manchester City pushed ahead with the deal and took him to England instead. His situation at Arsenal also made a transfer possible, as Mikel Arteta did not consider Jesus his first-choice striker, with Kai Havertz and Viktor Gyokeres ahead of him in the pecking order. Barcelona paid an upfront €10 million for Jesus. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images) Barcelona therefore found a player who was available, interested and capable of filling the specific role Flick wanted. The knee checks were crucial Barcelona’s next concern was Jesus’ physical condition , particularly the state of his knees. Those checks were taken seriously because of the Brazilian’s previous injury history.  On that note, Barcelona contacted the English doctors who had treated his knees, and the feedback gave the club the confidence to proceed. The medical assessment removed one of the biggest potential obstacles to the deal and allowed Barcelona to ultimately move once the decision was made.