Arsenal manager Arteta ‘very surprised’ at Jesus blast over Barcelona move

What the report says

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has rejected Gabriel Jesus’s account of how his departure from the club was handled, saying he was “very surprised” by the striker’s criticism. Al Jazeera, citing AFP, reported that Jesus said he was made to train separately from the squad and was not properly informed before joining Barcelona after ending a four-year spell with Arsenal in September.

Arteta said he had personally spoken with Jesus in the dressing room and described their exchange as respectful and focused on gratitude. He suggested that disagreements can arise when a club has to deliver unwelcome news, but said the longer-term relationship with departing players matters more than the immediate reaction.

The row comes amid broader scrutiny of Arsenal’s handling of player exits. The article noted comments from former Arsenal striker Ian Wright, who had recently raised concerns about the club’s communication around Gabriel Martinelli’s move to Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal. Arteta pointed to Leandro Trossard, who left for Besiktas in July and later returned to watch Arsenal against Chelsea, as an example of former players still maintaining ties with the club.

The dispute is significant because it highlights how transfer exits can affect the club’s image and its relationships with current and former players, especially when public criticism follows a move involving a high-profile footballer.