Jorginho is a Chelsea player that deserves huge respect. Twice he has battled back and proved his many doubters wrong at Stamford Bridge – and his influential role in the 2021 Champions League triumph has guaranteed his place in the club's history books. That can never be taken away from the midfielder.
The 2021/22 campaign wasn't Jorginho's finest, but the reason why only further enhances the esteem the 30-year-old should be held held. In the midst of an intense run of fixtures and with Mateo Kovacic and N'Golo Kante both ruled out, it was left to the Italian to shake off a minor injury of his own and run himself into the ground.
"Jorginho has sacrificed himself for many weeks," explained Chelsea head coach Thomas Tuchel in December. "He had no pre-season then started the Super Cup game, so I knew we would arrive at a point in the season where he would feel his body and not be fully fit.
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"But Jorginho is Jorginho and he is fully aware of the situation himself. He sacrifices himself and gives his very best every single day."
Jorginho went on to play 2,273 minutes of Premier League football last term, the fourth most among Chelsea's outfield players. It was clear toward the end of the campaign that workload – and the demands placed upon him during the winter months – had taken their toll as the Italian international's form dipped dramatically.
What Jorginho needed, like the majority in Tuchel's squad, was a summer away to recharge. And he has had just that, especially as Roberto Mancini allowed the former Napoli star to leave the Italy squad early last month following the Finalissima defeat to Argentina at Wembley.
Jorginho is expected to return for pre-season training in the coming days. He will be fresh, both mentally and physically, and ready to build up his fitness ahead of the 2022/23 campaign. However, the club he will be representing this season is not yet clear.
With less than a year remaining on Jorginho's contract, his future is very much uncertain. His agent, Joao Santos, insists the midfielder wants to remain at Stamford Bridge and sign a new deal: “Chelsea are the priority. The contract will expire in 2023, I think we will talk about the renewal from September," he told TuttoMercatoWeb.
It's the thing to say publicly – there is little point in Santos poisoning the well with Chelsea. Yet there is a belief that Jorginho could depart Stamford Bridge this summer should the right offer be received. And Juventus – as has been the case for several seasons – are interested, football.london understands.
Over the past ten days, Chelsea have been in talks with the Serie A side over a deal to make Matthijs de Ligt the most expensive defensive signing in the club's history. Along the way, there have been reports of a potential makeweight being offered: Timo Werner and Christian Pulisic have been name-checked.
Jorginho would be the more logical fit, but player exchanges are rare and the prospect is understood to be unlikely in this instance. That does not mean a deal to bring Jorginho to Turin is off the table, however, with the Old Lady keen to refresh this summer – Paul Pogba has already agreed to return on a free transfer following the expiration of his Manchester United contract.
Twelve months ago, Jorginho's stock was at its peak. It made little sense for Chelsea to sell at that point. Circumstances are now different and Tuchel has already admitted he does not want another season in which speculation over players' futures dominates press conferences and overshadows matches.
"It's a wish as a coach that we solve this in the summer in any way, that we solve it and it's clear where the journey is and what the decision is. Yes, this is the wish," Tuchel said in April. "[If not] we have the same talks that we have had about Toni [Rudiger] and Andreas [Christensen]
"All you do is just swap the names. We would talk about it through winter and then comes January, and then agents are talking to this club and the brother another. It would be nice if we can avoid it."
The sanctions placed upon Chelsea prior to the club's takeover being completed delayed much of their pre-transfer window work – and the exit of Marina Granovskaia and battlefield promotion of new co-owner Todd Boehly to interim sporting director has also had an impact on the Blues' dealings.
Yet while incomings are the obvious focus – it's hoped a deal for Raheem Sterling will be concluded in the coming days – outgoings have to be considered. And unless Chelsea renew Jorginho's contract, this summer is their last chance to secure a sizeable fee for the Italian maestro, who would depart with his head held high.
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