Football
Dermot Corrigan, Madrid correspondent 8y

Barcelona, Real Madrid target Gabriel Jesus in no rush to decide future

Palmeiras starlet Gabriel Jesus says he will not decide his future before the end of the Brazilian domestic season in December.

Media reports in Spain have claimed that Barcelona and Real Madrid are battling frantically to sign the 19-year-old centre-forward, who has scored 10 goals in 15 league games so far this season for table-toppers Palmeiras.

Other clubs including Manchester City, Manchester United, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint Germain, Inter Milan and Chinese outfit Jiangsu Suning are also apparently monitoring a player who will feature alongside Blaugrana star Neymar at next month's Olympic football tournament in Rio de Janeiro.

Both the Catalan and Madrid media say that despite all the current talk over his future, the teenager will not move anywhere this summer. After his final club game before the Olympics, he told Brazilian outlet Radio Globo that he would return to Palmeiras and stay until the end of their 2016 campaign at least.

"I want to return as league leader and top scorer," Gabriel Jesus said. "It is already clear that I will stay until the end of the year. Maybe even next year. I do not know my future yet."

Mundo Deportivo reports that Barca sporting director Robert Fernandez was in the VIP section at Palmeiras' 1-0 win over Internacional last Sunday, accompanied by the club's South American transfer representative Andre Cury, one of those who set up the controversial deal which brought Neymar to the Camp Nou.

Marca claims that Palmeiras director general Alexandre Mattos has been in Madrid this week and spoken with Blancos counterpart Jose Angel Sanchez to put together a deal for around €30 million. It reports the move is being negotiated by Madrid's international director Juni Calafat, whose contacts have previously helped bring Brazilian youngsters such as Willian Jose and Lucas Silva to the Bernabeu.

Complicating the situation is that the sporting rights for the youngster, whose Palmeiras contract reportedly includes a €24 million buy-out clause, and is co-owned by third-party investors. According to AS, to complete a deal this summer would require the payment of an extra €10 million. Globo reports his ownership as 30 percent for Palmeiras, 22.5 percent for his former agent Fabio Caran, and 47.5 percent split between investor Cristiano Simoes and the player himself.

Earlier this week legendary Brazil striker Ronaldo likened Gabriel Jesus to himself.

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