Bojan Krkic's Take on Gabriel Jesus: Perfect Fit for Hansi Flick

Bojan Krkic Sr has revealed just how highly he rates Gabriel Jesus – and why he believes the Brazilian is tailor-made for a Hansi Flick side.

“I bet a lot on him. The reports were very good,” Krkic told Sport, explaining that he personally scouted Jesus during his Manchester City days, when a departure was already being discussed. “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 convinced him was not just the goals, but the complete profile.

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

For Krkic, Jesus fits perfectly into the fluid, position-swapping attacking game Flick demands.

“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 former Barça man highlighted Jesus’ constant movement and ability to knit play together as key assets.

“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.

For Krkic, the stage is set. The opportunity, he insists, could be career-defining.

“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.”