New Lazio coach believes his former Chelsea and Napoli colleague, Jorginho, can stake a claim at the Ballon d’Or, should Italy win the European Championships.
The midfielder came into the tournament on the back of winning the Champions League with Chelsea. Jorginho continues to be of importance to the Italy national team and is one of head coach Roberto Mancini’s most trusted lieutenants on the pitch.
Sarri stated in a recent interview that Jorginho will become one of the contenders for football’s most prestigious individual honour, should he lead Italy to the Euro crown. He also praised his former player and claimed that he remains misunderstood.
“If he wins the European Championship [with Italy] as well, it is clear that he would become one,”
“He is a refined player, probably not understood by everyone. You have to put your eyes on him and only watch him in the game.
He is so good and intelligent that he makes everything look easy, rarely something spectacular stays in your eyes. That is his greatness.”
Sarri told Alfredo Pedulla.
Despite the Ballon d’Or calls, Jorginho remains a divisive figure within the Chelsea fanbase. Sarri went through a similar situation during his year abroad in London, when he was criticized by some and heralded by others. The Italian left the Blues after winning the Europa League but claims that he made a mistake.
“Marina Granovskaia wanted to keep me from leaving Chelsea. Today I say that it was a mistake to want to return to Italy at all costs,”
he said in the interview.
Sarri sealed a quick return to Italy following his one-year-long stint in Chelsea and was named the head coach of Juventus, who he led to a league title. Despite that, he was let go by the Bianconeri after just a single season at the club.
