GIRONA, SPAIN – AUGUST 01: Gabriel Jesus of Arsenal FC looks on during the pre-season friendly match between Girona FC and Arsenal FC at Montilivi Stadium on August 01, 2026 in Girona, Spain. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)
Branchini insists he is only in Italy to talk to Allegri, not to discuss Gabriel Jesus
Friday’s reports in Italy claim that Jesus is a strong option for Napoli should both Romelu Lukaku and Lorenzo Lucca leave the club before the end of the summer transfer window.
That would leave Rasmus Hojlund as the only senior centre-forward at the Stadio Maradona, and Jesus, now into the final year of his contract with Arsenal, has been tipped as an ideal candidate.
The focus on Napoli and Jesus was intensified on Friday evening when the player’s agent, Branchini, was spotted in the stands at Napoli’s pre-season training camp in Castel di Sangro.
Branchini, by coincidence, also represents Napoli head coach Allegri, and has recently insisted that he was only in Castel di Sangro to talk and catch up with the Azzurri boss.
“Allegri and I have been in touch, I came here today to come and visit him,” Branchini told Videoinformazioni.com.
Branchini continued: “He’s working hard and he’s happy with everything. He’s always had a good opinion of this team and is satisfied with the work that is being done.”
Then, when asked about Gabriel Jesus specifically, Branchini said: “I haven’t spoken to Allegri about him.”
Videoinformazioni notes that Branchini attempted to steer away from the line of questioning regarding Jesus.
When asked if Lukaku and Lucca would need to be sold in order for Jesus to become a real possibility for Napoli, Branchini replied: “In my line of work, the ‘ifs’ count for very little, not as much as they matter for you journalists. From my point of view, it’s better to not talk about speculation.”