Fernandinho says that he persuaded new Manchester City star, Gabriel Jesus, to join the club, snubbing Spanish giants Barcelona and Real Madrid in the process, as perThe Sun.
The pulling power of Barcelona's Brazilian talisman, Neymar, could not out do the impressive groundwork done by Pep Guardiola's enforcer and Jesus eventually moved to the Etihad in a deal worth £28.6m.
Three goals in as many Premier League games have followed since his arrival in January and already, fans of the game on English shores are lauding the impact the mercurial 19-year-old has had.
Fernandinho's crucial point in bringing the prodigy to England was the possibility of first-team football which would've been less likely in Spain.
"I just asked him to choose City - to come here. I talked to him and was honest with him,� the former Shakhtar Donetsk man reveals.
A lot of big teams wanted to sign him, especially Barcelona and Real Madrid. I just told him ˜look, you can take the team sheets of Barcelona and Madrid and see what player of 19 years old plays there in the starting 11.'
"But you have Pep here at City and he loves to have young players in the team - to give this opportunity for young players. I said to him 'you will have the opportunity to play here. Maybe not in the starting 11 all the time, but to come on regularly'.
"He made his choice. I just talked to him as a friend."
Jesus is already giving Sergio Aguero competition for his place in the City side with the Argentinian forward on the bench for the last two Premier Leaguefixtures.
The Brazilian though is already capable of dealing with the pressure of expectation after being handed Brazil's famous no. 9 shirt, where he has scored five goals in six games. City fans will be thanking Fernandinho for his brilliant persuasive powers.