Gabriel Jesus, the Brazilian striker currently at Arsenal, is on the verge of joining Barcelona. This potential move brings back a story from the summer of 2022, when Jesus was close to signing for Real Madrid—only for the Spanish giants to pull out due to a lack of an EU passport.
Why Real Madrid Backed Away
According to reports from that time, Real Madrid were genuinely interested in Jesus. Carlo Ancelotti, the head coach, was impressed by the forward, and the club’s scouting reports were positive about his abilities. However, the club’s management decided against completing the deal because they had already used all their available slots for non-EU players.
The Non-EU Player Puzzle
At that moment, Vinícius Júnior, Rodrygo, and Éder Militão occupied the three non-EU spots in Real Madrid’s squad. Their Spanish citizenship applications were still in process, which meant there was no room to register Jesus for the upcoming season. This administrative hurdle effectively ended the negotiation.
The Aftermath: Citizenship and a New Destination
Real Madrid closed the door on the transfer, and Jesus eventually moved to Arsenal. Meanwhile, Vinícius obtained Spanish citizenship in September 2022, followed later by Rodrygo and Militão, finally resolving the club’s non-EU quota issue. But by then, Jesus was already committed to the Premier League.
Four Years Later: A Twist with Barcelona
Now, four years on, Jesus is close to returning to La Liga—but this time with Real Madrid’s arch-rivals, Barcelona. Reports indicate that Barcelona have nearly finalized an agreement with Arsenal for the Brazilian’s transfer, with the deal potentially being officially confirmed in the coming hours.
This turn of events highlights a missed opportunity for Real Madrid. They had the coach’s approval and positive scouting reports, but a simple administrative rule—the non-EU player limit—prevented them from securing a player who might have added depth to their attack. Instead, Jesus could now be lining up for the opposition.