Jorginho’s future at Chelsea has been thrown into doubt after his agent stated he would one day like to return to Italy. The midfield general has entrenched himself as one of Thomas Tuchel’s most trusted and influential players ever since he replaced Frank Lampard as manager.
The former Napoli midfielder played an instrumental role in Chelsea’s shock Champions League triumph last season, forming a rock-solid partnership with midfield sensation N’Golo Kante. However, Chelsea are currently embroiled in a huge period of uncertainty, amid Roman Abramovich’s recent sanctioning by the UK government.
Several Blues players, including club captain Cesar Azpilicueta, Andreas Christensen and Antonio Rudiger, are all facing uncertain futures as the club tries to navigate its way through this difficult situation. And Jorginho’s exit cast further uncertainty onto Stamford Bridge, by stating Juventus could still be a potential destination for the 30-year-old.
"To Juventus next year? Since Sarri was there, we talk about Juve, but at the moment Chelsea can't move anything on the transfer market. “We have to see what happens,” Jorginho’s representative Joao Santos said to Radio Marte, via Calciomercato.com.
“Obviously Juventus are an important team at European level, we have to see. He arrived in Italy when he was 15, obviously he would like to return one day.
“But now he is focused on the national team because he has to go to the World Cup, let's hope for the best." Jorginho has been linked with a move to Juventus on numerous occasions since he joined the west Londoners in 2018.
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Former Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri was believed to be keen in signing the midfielder for a third time when he took up the reins at Juventus in 2019.But a move did not materialise and Jorginho remained at Stamford Bridge.
While Sarri is now manager of Lazio, a team who would likely struggle to afford Jorginho’s transfer fee and wages, the Italian’s links with Juventus have not cooled. Jorginho’s contract at Stamford Bridge is set to expire in the summer of 2023, meaning this summer would be Chelsea’s last chance to cash in on the midfielder.
However, the current stipulations of the special sporting licence they were given by the UK government after Abramovich’s assets were frozen, dictate that they cannot buy or sell any players. They are also forbidden to commit any current players to new contracts.
This means Azpilicueta, Christensen, and Rudiger could all leave for nothing and the Blues would not be able to sign any replacements. Juventus have also been linked with a move for the latter.
Reports from Italian outlet Gazzetta dello Sport understand the former Roma defender has agreed a long-term deal with the German international. Rudiger has been locked in talks with the Chelsea board ever since he entered the final year of his contract at the start of the season.
As well as becoming one of the best defenders in the Premier League under Tuchel, Rudiger is also a huge vocal presence in the Blues’ young squad. He has only missed two Premier League matches for Chelsea this season and also played seven out of the Blues’ eight Champions League matches this season.
