Pep Guardiola gives honest explanation why he let Gabriel Jesus join title rivals Arsenal

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has insists he has no regrets about selling Gabriel Jesus to title rivals Arsenal.

The Brazilian international left Manchester City to join the Gunners in a £45m deal in the summer and has been a revelation for the London club. He has scored five goals and making numerous assists to help Mikel Arteta’s men climb to the top of the Premier League table.

Jesus told Guardiola he wanted to leave the Etihad once it became clear City had struck a £51m deal to land Erling Haaland from Borussia Dortmund.

Guardiola, who also let Raheem Sterling and Oleksandr Zinchenko leave at the same time, admits he would never tell someone he couldn’t leave his club – and is not worried he’s made a mistake by handing one of his challengers a huge advantage in the title fight.

He told The Athletic: “Every player is different. I think the guys gave us what they gave us, like Raheem, Oleks and Gabby.”

“What (he) gave us, (he) deserves to choose where (he) wants to play. If (he doesn’t) want to go to Arsenal (he) would stay here. Why do we have to say you cannot be there? Thanks to (him) we are where we are right now.

“All the people they care about, their family. They believe it’s not enough, (so) who are we to say to their family you cannot go there? I don’t like it. If Arsenal are stronger it’s okay. They arrive in agreement with the club, transfer with the club, everyone is happy.”

Jesus never claimed to be angry about Guardiola’s squad rotation policy, but the chance to get regular first-team football as a striker under Mikel Arteta at Arsenal convinced him to make the switch.

Letting the 25-year-old go was still a surprise, however, as he’d scored 13 goals with 12 assists from 41 games in his final season at the Etihad