Barcelona striker Jesus was interviewed on the Tot Costa 3Cat program, discussing his adaptation at Barcelona since joining, the team's internal competition, his playing style, as well as topics such as Raphinha, Guardiola, Flick, and the team's Champions League ambitions. This article is the first part of the exclusive interview.

How are you? Everything good?

Everything is great.

Excellent, glad to hear that. This interview couldn't start better. You've been at Barcelona for about two weeks now, how are you feeling? Is it better than you expected, both the club and the city?

I've played with many players who have played here before, and they've told me a lot about this place. They speak very highly of the city, the club, and everything here. I also know some of my current teammates, so I've spoken with them about it too.

The club is fantastic, and the city is fantastic as well. However, I haven't had much time to experience it fully yet, because I'm still adapting. My family is also in the process of moving; we're still looking for a house, viewing apartments, and dealing with those things. Overall, I'm very happy to be here.

Who was most active in telling you, "Don't think about it, just come here"?

I spoke with Deco. After that, of course, I spoke with Raphinha, and I also briefly chatted with Cancelo. Then, when reports started circulating about the strong possibility of me joining, a few people also messaged me, like Neymar.

He said: "You're going to really enjoy it there, because the club is very good, the fans are good, the people there are good, everything is great."

It sounds like you got very good reviews. You joined in the late stages of the transfer window. Clearly, Barcelona ultimately didn't recruit the striker they originally wanted. When they contacted you, I understand it was Deco who called you—what kind of plan did he present? Did he say, "We want you to be our starting number 9," or "We want you to strengthen the team"? How exactly did they approach you?

Honestly, at that time I was training where I was. I did have a few options, but because of the price Arsenal was asking for me, my options became quite limited. At that time I was just training as usual. I'm a very faithful person, you know? I put all my faith in God. I'll always work hard and do what I need to do, while also trusting that God will turn things around and give me an opportunity.

So I kept training, and then Barcelona contacted me. Deco called me, and we spoke for about 10 to 15 minutes. The offer they made was very good. Actually, I also knew that, given my current situation, everything would definitely be different from before in my career. Because I had just come back from a season with a serious anterior cruciate ligament injury, I'd been out for a long time because of that injury. Then I came back to play, but then I didn't play much, although the final stretch was quite good.

So when we spoke, it was more about me adapting first. Training gradually, slowly getting back to the team's rhythm, adapting to the team's playing style, and then seeing what happens next. Of course, he didn't say whether I would be a starter.

If I'm not mistaken, you mean that Arsenal's asking price for you was relatively high, so some of your other options didn't materialize before Barcelona came along?

No, it's not that the other options fell through. But considering my situation, I previously suffered a serious injury and hadn't played for almost a year. Then my recovery went very well, everything went smoothly, and I came back to play, and I played well in the final stretch. Of course, I'm confident I'm a player who can be very helpful to a team; I have my own characteristics and abilities. And I'm 29 years old, I've been through a lot in football, I've played in England for 10 years, and I've won many things.

So I think the price the club set for me was based on "the player myself," not on my situation at that time. That is, it didn't fully take into account that I had just come through a year of injury and hadn't consistently gotten playing time since returning.

So the solution was to wait until the late stages of the transfer window to make Arsenal's stance more reasonable.

Yes, that's right.

You already explained that you don't mind being "plan B," or even "plan C," after Julián Álvarez. So, as a "low-cost alternative" in quotes, do you think this could actually work in your favor? For example, by not putting too much pressure on you from the fans?

As for pressure, I've felt it throughout my career. I think the greatest pressure a player can feel is wearing the Brazil national team jersey, and especially wearing the number 9 that Ronaldo wore. For me, that's the greatest pressure.

So pressure will always be with me throughout my life. For me, wearing Barcelona's jersey is not pressure, it's a joy. Being on the pitch and doing what I need to do is a joy. As you just said, I know I have my own abilities, but I also know I work very hard. When I get the opportunity to play more and more matches, I will do my best.

When Raphinha told you to come here, did he warn you beforehand that he'd be playing as number 9 and scoring 400 goals? (laughs)

No (laughs). Actually, I only spoke with him after I knew I was coming. But Raphinha is really in outstanding form right now. He deserves all of this, because he works very hard and also has strong finishing ability. Sometimes one season and another season are just different. He also participated in the World Cup with the Brazil team, and Brazil didn't perform well back then.

So Raphinha is really outstanding this season. I won't use the word I used the other day again (laughs), but he's really very good. He deserves all of this. My goal in coming here is to help the team. When I get the chance, like the other day, scoring a goal in 10 minutes, that's already very good (laughs).

I was just about to say that. Now it might be difficult to dislodge him from that position.

The season is still very long, you know? I think Raphinha is in outstanding form right now, and I hope he continues to score and help the team, because that's very good for us. And not just Raphinha, but also Lamine Yamal, Adeyemi, Gundogan, me, and Hamza, including all the midfielders.

Look at how Spain won the World Cup; they had an amazing team, everyone was involved, and everyone played. I think our team is also very strong, and everyone can be very important.

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