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Gabriel Jesus' future at Arsenal has come under sharp focus after his representative was seen at Napoli's pre-season base. The Brazil forward is moving into a crucial phase of his career in north London, and his agent's presence in Italy has further fuelled transfer speculation.

Speculation grew after the sighting in Castel di Sangro

With the transfer window moving into its closing phase, Jesus has unexpectedly become a major talking point in Italy. The rumours gathered pace on Friday evening when the Arsenal forward's representative, Giovanni Branchini, was spotted in the stands at Napoli's pre-season training camp in Castel di Sangro.

Branchini's appearance in Castel di Sangro has come at an important moment, with Jesus now entering the final 12 months of his Arsenal contract. While the 29-year-old is still regarded as an important part of Mikel Arteta's squad depth, doubts continue to grow over his long-term future in north London. Reports in Italy claim Napoli see Jesus as a leading target if both Romelu Lukaku and Lorenzo Lucca leave before the deadline.

Agent explains reason for Napoli visit

Despite the strong attention around a possible move involving the Arsenal star, Branchini has been quick to play down the importance of his visit to the training base. The experienced agent also represents Napoli's new head coach, Massimiliano Allegri, and he has insisted that his trip was purely linked to his relationship with the former Juventus manager, not to any negotiations over the Brazil forward.

Speaking to Videoinformazioni.com, Branchini was clear about why he was at the camp. He said: 'Allegri and I have been in touch, I came here today to come and visit him. 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.'

Responding to the Gabriel Jesus rumours

When asked directly whether the Arsenal player had been discussed during his meeting with the Napoli hierarchy or coaching staff, Branchini strongly denied it. The agent has maintained that there have been no formal or informal talks over the striker's availability. Asked specifically about Jesus, Branchini said: 'I haven't spoken to Allegri about him.'

Italian media reported that Branchini was clearly trying to avoid questions about the Premier League star. The forward, who joined Arsenal from Manchester City in the summer of 2022, is coming off an outstanding campaign in which he helped the Gunners win the Premier League title and reach the Champions League final, where they were beaten by Paris Saint-Germain. In light of those achievements, his agent seems unwilling to enter into public discussion about his client's future while the transfer market is still open.

The logistics of a possible transfer

When asked whether the sale of Lukaku and Lucca was an essential condition for any move involving the Brazilian, Branchini quickly dismissed the idea. He 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.' Although the representative has now spoken publicly, his refusal to engage with hypothetical scenarios leaves the door open for further developments.