Jorginho has a ‘verbal agreement’ to leave Arsenal and join Flamengo this summer – but ‘family pressure’ could impact his thinking according to reports.
The 33-year-old has struggled for game time at the Gunners this season and has started just six Premier League matches, playing just 473 minutes in the process. Jorginho has been a little more prominent in other competitions, such as the Champions League and the Carabao Cup, but it’s safe to say he is not in their first-choice XI.
And that, accompanied by the fact he is out of contract in the summer, means he is expected to leave the Emirates Stadium at the end of the campaign. Jorginho signed a one-year extension last May with the 18-month deal he signed in January 2023, following his £12million move from Chelsea, coming to an end.
Reports earlier this month suggested that Jorginho could be on his way to Flamengo and RTI Esporte have since claimed that there is a ‘verbal agreement’ in place to join the Brazilian side this summer.
However, it’s added that ‘family pressure’ could impact his decision making after an offer from the South American outfit. Their preference would be for the experienced midfielder to stay in Europe, with the report claiming they feel that a move to Serie A would be best for Jorginho, and a switch to Flamengo has cooled as a result.
But with his contract into its final six months and Declan Rice preferred in the No.8 position by Mikel Arteta, an exit from north London is still on the cards. And last month, Jorginho offered an update on his future, admitting he is focused on each game as it comes rather than an immediate exit.
“My contract is until June and my goal now is to think about the next game, which is in three days. There’s not much to think about, you know?” Jorginho told TNT Sport. “Things happen very quickly in football, things can happen overnight, but my mind is on the next game.
“Football is a box of surprises, as we all know, but my goal is to think about the next game. I don’t even look, because it always happens. Every window that opens is always crazy, with a lot of information, a lot of things, a lot of talk.
“But if you stop to think about all the talk you always have, then you end up wasting a lot of energy and it ends up affecting your work where you are. So my goal, as I said before, is to focus on where I am, which is here today, so that’s it.”
Although it doesn’t look like Jorginho’s long-term future is at the Gunners, Arsenal boss Arteta has always been complimentary of the Italian and his role in the squad. Speaking after Jorginho filled in and impressed during a 2-0 win over Manchester United in December, Arteta said: “That is his quality.
“I always mention his biggest quality is his capacity to make others better. Last season was the same. At the start there was less games, we don’t play that many midweek matches and he had less minutes.
“But I told him to be ready because there is going to be a time, and it is not going to be in one week you have to play, you are going to play now or tomorrow. The way he prepares is top so when he needs to play he is ready.”
