Jorge Jesus' friends are very clear, if he wins the Copa Libertadores against River Plate on Saturday, November 23 (3:00 pm), he will be the next coach of Barcelona.
Two close friends of Jorge Jesus, former footballers Octavio Machado and Carlos Padrão, insist that Jorge Jesus' great football reference has always been Johan Cruyff and Barcelona, for their style of play and football philosophy, followed later by Pep Guardiola.
Octavio Machado, who was Jorge Jesus' teammate in 1983, when both were players of Vitoria de Setubal, recalls that everything was done when Joan Laporta ran for president of Barcelona. "Jorge Jesus was going to be the coach, but he did not win the club's elections."
Meanwhile, Carlos Padrão is even more certain, "if Jorge Jesus wins the Libertadores, he signs for Barcelona, I'm sure of it."
Padrão was a goalkeeper for Porto and played with Jorge Jesus in the 70s and 80s in clubs like Riopele, Leiria, and Vitoria de Setubal.
Godfather of one of the Flamengo coach's sons, the popular Portuguese goalkeeper sums up Jorge Jesus' football life with a quote: "It's glory or death."
For Octavio and Padrão, Jorge Jesus is "writing the history of Brazilian football", since "he rescued it" and, moreover, "he is breaking all the records".
"He loves challenges," explains Carlos Padrão, and above all, "he is a genius who awakens hatred and passion", since "he loves challenges and is not afraid."
