The Manchester City boss, who left Bayern Munich at the end of last season to take charge at the Etihad, made an array of big-money signings on arrival.
Ilkay Gundogan, Nolito, Leroy Sane, John Stones and Claudio Bravo were acquired as Pep Guardiola overhauled City's squad.
And while Brazil international forward Jesus was also bought for £27million from Palmeiras, he could have moved elsewhere.
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Gabriel Jesus has revealed Pep Guardiola's phone call convinced him to choose Manchester City
Manchester United, Barcelona and Real Madrid were all chasing the 19-year-old sensation last year.
However, Guardiola's decision to phone Jesus and explain the project at City proved pivotal.
And had Jose Mourinho opted for a similar approach, United could have won his signature ahead of their neighbours.
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Jose Mourinho still spent big at Man Utd last summer as he signed Paul Pogba and Henrikh Mkhitaryan
When I took the decision to join City, Pep Guardiola’s call was very important
Gabriel Jesus
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“He was the only manager who called me,” Jesus told Manchester Evening News. “There were some clubs interested in me, but Guardiola was the only one who called me.
“He showed his interest in having me here, that I was going to come here to help, that he was counting on me.
“When I took the decision to join City, Pep Guardiola’s call was very important.
“He called me, spoke to me about the project and explained that I was going to be an important part of it.
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Pep Guardiola was pivotal in Gabriel Jesus' decision-making, and he is now in Man City's starting XI
“I felt very happy. The prestige of Manchester City’s shirt is also very important.”