Brazil head coach Fernando Diniz has insisted that the national team are exercising caution over the fitness of Arsenal striker Gabriel Jesus as he battles back from a hamstring injury.
Last month, the former Manchester City man shone in a 2-1 Champions League win over Sevilla, setting up Gabriel Martinelli on the stroke of half time before doubling Arsenal's lead early in the second period.
However, Jesus's night at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium ended prematurely as he came off with a hamstring issue, which the 26-year-old initially hoped was not too severe.
Mikel Arteta subsequently revealed that his number nine would be out of action for "a few weeks", and he has been absent for the Gunners' last five matches in all competitions.
Prior to re-entering the treatment room with his thigh injury, Jesus underwent two separate knee operations on the issue he sustained at last year's World Cup, and Arsenal are understandably taking it slow when it comes to his re-integration.
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Nevertheless, Selecao head coach Diniz included Jesus in his squad for this month's World Cup 2026 qualifiers with Colombia and Argentina, which take place on November 17 and 22 respectively, as he works around the absence of Richarlison following the Tottenham Hotspur man's groin operation.
Arsenal insisted on keeping Jesus at London Colney for the duration of the international break, but Brazil were within their rights to summon the striker to their national team training camp to assess his fitness themselves.
Jesus was able to take part in warm-up exercises with the team earlier this week, but he is yet to return to full training and has been left out of the travelling Brazil squad for Friday's contest with Colombia.
Disagreements over how to manage Jesus's rehabilitation have purportedly led to tension between Brazil and Arsenal chiefs, but speaking to reporters in a press conference, Diniz has defended his decision to call up the unfit striker.
"About Gabriel [Jesus], my whole life's work is not a concern in this sense with Arsenal or the national team. My concern is Gabriel. We brought him here for some reasons and that it was important to him," Diniz said.
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"He was one of the players who even playing a match for us below our level in Uruguay, he managed to make a positive impact on the game, very difficult game but he got there.
"Play well, sustain position and create difficulty sometimes even kind of individually against Uruguay, I trust the player and him being here I take satisfaction. I talked to Gabriel and he didn't come here without planning.
"He said he's feeling good, he's already doing certain things, and when I spoke to him we had two more weeks, 10 days at least till the first game [against Colombia] and 15 days 'til the second one [against Argentina]. He is in good condition, we are doing things with great care. As soon as he arrived we made a new MRI we [are] treating him very carefully."
While Jesus will not be present against Colombia, Diniz is optimistic that the Arsenal man will be fit to play a part in next week's crunch clash with Argentina, adding: "If he is in the right condition he will be available against Argentina. If not for Gabriel I'm sure it was very important for him to come here, and he will return to Arsenal better than when he got here."
Brazil have won two, drawn one and lost one of their opening four 2026 World Cup qualifiers to sit third in the CONMEBOL section, level on points with Uruguay and Venezuela and five adrift of leaders Argentina.
Ben Knapton
