It appears Chelsea midfielder Jorginho could be reunited with Juventus manager Maurizio Sarri, again. According to ESPN via The National, the Serie A club have begun talks with Jorginho’s representatives. To bring him to Turin, they have readied a £35 million bid for the midfielder.
REPORT: Juventus Take First Step In Buying Chelsea’s Jorginho
Jorginho’s Roller Coaster Chelsea Tenure
Jorginho first played for Sarri at Napoli, with 2017/18 their most successful season. Napoli pushed Juve to the brink that year in the league, eventually finishing in second with an astonishing 91 points.
The Jorginho racked up four goals and assists each across all competitions. But of course, he did much more than that as the deep-lying playmaker and lynchpin of the team. After his breakout year, he followed Sarri to London and joined Chelsea for £57 million including incentives.
Both manager and player saw and felt the ire of Blues fans incessantly throughout their one year together in west London despite finishing in the top four and winning the Europa League.
Due to the lack of love, Sarri departed Stamford Bridge. Understandable. Jorginho, however, shockingly stayed. Speaking to FourFourTwo last month, he explained: “Last year, fans were picking on me a lot because I’d arrived with another manager and, in my opinion, I ended up hearing some things that were honestly unfair.”
Later, he said: “I embrace this kind of challenge and I’ve never backed down. It gives me more strength to work even harder, to prove to everyone that I can make it.”
And this year he has proven that, forming an incredible partnership with Mateo Kovacic in the middle of the park. Even more impressively, he has done this without defensive destroyer N’Golo Kante covering as he has missed most of the season through injury.
According to WhoScored, Jorginho has averaged a respectable 6.94 rating this year in the league, second highest among Chelsea midfielders with Kovacic at 6.98. Jorginho has won over the fans and even worn the captain’s armband this year, capping off his Chelsea redemption.
Transfer That Benefits Everyone
Jorginho and Sarri have proven at two different clubs in two different countries that they work well together. And with the central midfielder vitally important to ‘Sarriball’, it only makes sense that Juventus want to reunite the two.
While it would certainly amount to a loss for Chelsea, it could turn into addition by subtraction. The emergence of Scottish teen Billy Gilmour means a direct replacement for Jorignho is already in the pipeline.
With N’Golo Kante, hopefully, fit and healthy after the coronavirus stoppage, he can return to his best position. Partnered with him in midfield would be two ball-playing midfielders like Kovacic or Ruben Loftus-Cheek, assuming he can get past his injury problems as well. When Chelsea play teams that park the bus, creative players like Christian Pulisic or Mason Mount can play in the midfield for even more attacking threat.
The Blues may have to take a loss financially, although unlikely. Juventus are a buyer that will likely pay almost anything to get his man. Plus, with Jorginho entering the back half of his prime, it’s now or never for Blues to cash in before he looses almost all resale value.
Jorginho has earned the respect of the Chelsea fans and can lay claim to Player Of The Season at The Bridge. However, selling him to Juve looks best for all parties.
Main Photo
