Brazil head coach Fernando Diniz has insisted they are treating Gabriel Jesus “very carefully” after he reported for international duty despite missing Arsenal’s last five games through injury.
Jesus, 26, was included in Brazil’s squad for their fixtures this month, despite not featuring for Arsenal since the 2-1 Champions League victory over Sevilla in October.
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He won’t play against Colombia on Thursday but could feature against Argentina next Tuesday if he comes through fitness tests, with Diniz confirming that the national team are treating the forward with care.
Diniz said: “My concern is with Gabriel. We brought him here for some reasons and that it was important to him. He was one of the players, who even when we played a match below our standards against Uruguay, managed to make a positive impact in the game. It was a very difficult game but he got there and played well. He helped us sustain our position and create difficulty, sometimes even individually.
“I trust the player and he being here, I take satisfaction. He didn’t come here without planning. He said he was feeling good and already doing certain things. When I talked to him he had two more weeks left. We thought it interesting to risk bringing him here. He is in good condition. We are doing things with great care.
“As soon as he arrived, he had a new MRI. We are treating him very carefully. If he does not have a condition, he will be available against Argentina. For Gabriel, it was very important for him to come here and he will return to Arsenal even better than when he got here.”
Jesus has endured an injury-hit start to the season and has been limited to 11 appearances in all competitions. He missed his side’s first two league games with a knee injury that he underwent a procedure on in August.
He then returned to the side but after scoring a goal and providing an assist against Sevilla, he was substituted in the latter stages of that game with manager Mikel Arteta saying: “He felt something in his hamstring. Let’s see. He straight away asked to be subbed which is not good news because Gabby is not a player who does that.”
The striker was also absent for a large period of Arsenal’s season last campaign with an injury to his right knee that he sustained during the 2022 World Cup.
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Since making his international debut in 2016, Jesus has scored 19 goals in 63 appearances for Brazil.
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(Photo: Getty Images)
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