Gabriel Jesus: "I want to be the number nine right now" at Barça

📰 Barça's new number nine, Gabriel Jesus, has made it clear he wants the striker's role. 📌 Key points 🎙️ Jesus told the club's website: "I want to be the number nine right now." ⚡ He named directness and a winning mindset as his strengths. 📺 As a boy he sometimes skipped school to watch Barça in the Champions League. ✍️ He joined from Arsenal on 1 September and is signed until 2029. 🩹 Raphinha is a doubt for Getafe, which could open the door for Jesus. 📝 What happened 🎙️ Barcelona published an interview with Jesus on their official website on 6 October. Wearing the number nine shirt, he said he wants to bring directness and a winning mindset to the team, adding: "I want to be the number nine right now." ⚽ He said: "I sometimes used to miss school to watch FC Barcelona play in the Champions League." He named Ronaldinho as his biggest influence, a player who "brought joy to the pitch". He called Raphinha a leader in the dressing room and described Flick as "a very good coach", saying the team are "on the right road". ✍️ Jesus left Arsenal for Barça on deadline day, 1 September. According to Sky Sports, the fee was £8.6m (about €10m) and his contract runs to 2029. He missed most of last year after injuring his knee against Manchester United in the FA Cup in January 2025. 🩹 Meanwhile, Raphinha returned from Brazil duty with a problem in his right thigh. There is no muscle tear, but according to Marca, cited by GOAL, Flick wants to avoid rushing him back and risking a relapse as happened last year. Jesus and Yamal are among the options mentioned. 📊 By the numbers • Fee: £8.6m (about €10m) • Contract: until 2029 • Shirt number: 9 • Signed: 1 September (deadline day) 🔭 Why it matters Without Raphinha, Barça need a new answer up front. A month after arriving, Jesus has put his hand up for the number nine role. Barcelona host Getafe in LaLiga matchday eight on 10 October.