Gabriel Jesus Napoli Transfer: Branchini Denies Trip Was About Arsenal Forward
Gabriel Jesus is being considered by Napoli as uncertainty over Romelu Lukaku and Lorenzo Lucca creates room for a new forward.
Ginevra Cattaneo
Updated on 11 August 2026
Giovanni Branchini, the agent who represents both Napoli boss Massimiliano Allegri and Arsenal striker Gabriel Jesus, was spotted at Napoli’s pre-season training camp in Castel di Sangro.
His presence immediately reignited talk of a possible move for the Brazilian forward.
But Branchini has since played down the connection himself.
Asked directly about the trip, he said it was tied to “entirely different reasons” rather than any Jesus negotiation.
Branchini Denies Napoli Visit Was About Gabriel Jesus
Branchini also acts as the Italian representative for Frank Anguissa, and he wasn’t at Castel di Sangro alone.
Maxime Nana, Anguissa’s other agent, was present at the same session.
According to Branchini, the pair’s business centred on Anguissa’s contract situation rather than Jesus.
Napoli are said to be discussing a new three-year deal for the midfielder that would run until 2030.
That leaves the Jesus rumours resting on inference rather than confirmation, at least for now.
Napoli’s Attack Needs Reinforcement Behind Højlund
Napoli’s forward options remain unsettled heading into the new season.
Rasmus Højlund is currently the club’s only established out-and-out number nine.
That has left sporting director Giovanni Manna hunting for a further attacking option, with a known preference for the Premier League market.
The numbers explain the urgency. Napoli have posted the fifth and sixth-best attacking returns in Serie A across the last two seasons, with 58 and 59 goals respectively.
For a club with genuine ambitions, that goal output is short of where it needs to be.
Lukaku And Lang Exits Hold Up Any Gabriel Jesus Deal
Any move for Jesus depends on two things happening first: Napoli need both squad-list space and the funds to back a deal.
Both are currently tied to outgoing business.
Romelu Lukaku and Noa Lang are the two departures Napoli consider closest to being resolved, while Lorenzo Lucca’s situation is still being assessed separately.
Until Lukaku’s exit in particular is finalised, Napoli’s sporting director has limited room to push any Jesus approach into a formal negotiation.
Arsenal Want An Outright Sale For Gabriel Jesus
On the Arsenal side, the picture is clearer.
Jesus’s contract runs to 30 June 2027, and he is not expected to be offered an extension.
That timeline works against a loan, since any temporary deal would need an extension attached to make sense for Arsenal.
A permanent sale remains the outcome Arsenal are believed to prefer this summer, with the Brazilian’s value in Italian reporting put at around 20 million euros.
Jesus turned 29 in April, and has had recent stretches interrupted by injury, factors Napoli will also be weighing against the price.
Where The Gabriel Jesus Situation Stands
For now, Jesus sits in the category of an ambition rather than an active negotiation.
Branchini’s own account removes the idea that his Castel di Sangro visit was a Jesus-specific mission.
The move still depends entirely on Napoli clearing space up front, both financially and on the squad list.
Until Lukaku and Lang’s exits are actually completed, any talk of Jesus in Naples remains speculative rather than advanced.
Ginevra Cattaneo
Ginevra Cattaneo grew up in Bologna with a football shirt on her back and a match playing somewhere in the background at all times. From backyard arguments about whether Maldini or Baresi was the greatest ever to staying up late watching Champions League nights, the game has always been at the centre of her life. She brings that same passion and familiarity to everything she writes, covering Serie A, Italian football culture, and the rapidly growing world of women's football in Italy.
Our unbiased editorial policy
Despite ongoing collaborations with commercial affiliates, the details, information, and reviews we provide remain honest and unbiased. We keep this in check by implementing a stringent editorial policy.
Our policy implements strict editorial standards, ensuring the integrity and trustworthiness of our articles, news, and reviews. Only the highest-quality content reaches our pages. We achieve this through conducting thorough research on each topic, conveyed to you using unbiased reporting, to ensure we earn your trust and keep it.
