Gabriel Jesus is close to joining Barcelona from Arsenal, four years after an administrative issue involving Real Madrid prevented the Brazilian striker from moving to the Spanish capital.
The possible transfer could bring back to prominence a story from the summer of 2022, when Jesus was nearing a move to Real Madrid. The deal ultimately fell through because he did not hold a passport from a European Union member state.
Reports detailing the negotiations at the time said Real Madrid had been interested in signing the forward. Jesus had impressed then-manager Carlo Ancelotti, while the club’s technical assessments of his ability were also positive.
However, Real Madrid decided not to proceed after using all three of their available places for players from outside the European Union. The club was unable to register another non-EU player in its squad, which would have prevented Jesus from being eligible to play had the transfer gone ahead.
Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo and Eder Militao occupied those three places in Real Madrid’s squad. Their applications for Spanish passports were still being processed, meaning there was no immediate vacancy available for Jesus.
The delay caused by those procedures eventually brought Real Madrid’s negotiations with the striker to an end. Jesus moved to Arsenal instead, while Vinicius Junior obtained Spanish citizenship in September 2022. Rodrygo and Eder Militao followed later, bringing an end to the registration problem that had blocked Jesus’ proposed switch to the club.
Now, after four years, Jesus is set to return to La Liga, although his likely destination is Real Madrid’s fierce rivals Barcelona. Barcelona have nearly completed an agreement with Arsenal for the Brazilian’s transfer, with the deal potentially set to be formally concluded in the coming hours.
The proposed move would represent an unusual turn in Jesus’ transfer history. A passport-related restriction once stopped him from joining Real Madrid; he could now move to Barcelona instead, despite having previously been backed by Ancelotti and receiving favourable technical reports from Real Madrid.
The decision in 2022 was therefore not linked to doubts about Jesus’ quality or suitability. Rather, it was dictated by the club’s registration limits for players from outside the European Union and the fact that the passport applications of Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo and Eder Militao had not yet been completed.
By the time those restrictions were resolved, Jesus had already joined Arsenal. The Brazilian is now close to a move to Barcelona, potentially closing one chapter of a transfer saga that began with a failed opportunity at Real Madrid and may end with him wearing the colours of the club’s biggest domestic rival.
