The most loved Brazilian at Anfield, especially after Philippe Coutinho left for Barcelona, is Roberto Firmino. And it may seem likely that a striker who netted 27 goals for Liverpool last season would be strongly favored to be Brazil’s No. 9 at the World Cup. But that doesn’t intimidate 21-year-old sensation Gabriel Jesus, who has held that shirt for two years now.
his question of Firmino is good for me, for Brazil. Not only (to create competition) for the striker position, but all of them. He wants to play and that makes me want to improve too,” Jesus said in a press conference on Saturday.
“Since I started as a professional at Palmeiras I always had to fight for my position. It was like that in 2015, when I became professional. Palmeiras had signed more than 15 players and I was scared. But then I took the challenge,” the striker said. “That was good for me because I made the extra effort.”
Jesus said he didn’t expect to still be wearing Brazil’s No. 9, which once belonged to Ronaldo. And promised to show he deserves to keep it.