Transfer Centre

Jorginho's agent talks up Serie A return amid Arsenal contract situation

By Andrew Delaney, Reporter | 01 March 2024

Lazio, Juventus and Napoli are reportedly showing interest in Arsenal midfielder Jorginho, with the player's agent talking up the possibility of a return to Serie A.

Jorginho's agent has talked up the likelihood of the Arsenal midfielder returning to Serie A in the summer.

The 32-year-old left his adopted nation when joining Chelsea from Napoli back in 2018, winning the Champions League with the Blues in 2021.

He followed that up by winning the European Championship just over a month later at Wembley against England.

Jorginho then made a rather surprising move across London to join Arsenal in the winter window last season, where he has proved to be a useful squad player under Mikel Arteta.

The midfielder started in recent home wins over Liverpool and Newcastle United, but that has not prevented speculation about his future arising.

Agent Joao Santos has spoken about the fact that Lazio, Juventus and former club Napoli are showing interest in bringing the player back to Italy.

Jorginho in action for Napoli on October 21, 2017 © Reuters

Jorginho's contract expires at the Emirates in the summer, after only signing an 18-month deal following his switch from Chelsea.

Lazio could lay claim to being the frontrunners, considering their manager Maurizio Sarri brought Jorginho to England with him when making the switch from Napoli to Chelsea.

Santos told Italian outlet TV Play: "He would suit Lazio more, for the presence of coach Sarri, who already knows his characteristics very well."

The Biancocelesti are likely to be in the market for a midfielder, given that Matteo Guendouzi's loan expires in the summer, and Daichi Kamada is yet to sign a contract extension.

Santos did not stop at just a potential move to Lazio though, stating that Jorginho would fit in well at both Juventus and Napoli too.

"Also Juve, who have a great director of sport like Cristiano Giuntoli, who he spent many years with at Napoli, [and] I would not rule out a return to Napoli with new coach [Francesco] Calzona, who used to work with Sarri before that" Santos revealed.

With the return of Thomas Partey from a five-month injury layoff, Jorginho's game time may become more limited in the latter weeks of the season, as no talks of a new contract have yet transpired either.