The agent of Chelsea midfielder Jorginho has given a pretty good interview to ESPN Brasil this week, revealing that several other Premier League clubs were trying to sign him from Napoli last summer.
João Santos has claimed five English sides all wanted the player, but it was Chelsea who convinced the Serie A club.
“There had been calls from Liverpool, Manchester United, Manchester City, Tottenham and Chelsea. In a way, all the great English clubs saw Jorginho because he was already in the Italian team,” João Santos told ESPN Brasil.
“From this, they came for him and he went to Chelsea based on an agreement with Napoli. Jorginho still had two years of contract and the last word was from Napoli. In that moment, the best deal for Napoli was Chelsea.”
“It was not only the financial proposal, but also the power and the will of Napoli weighed heavily, who did not want to sell him because they would have to invest a lot to get a replacement. It would not be an immediate replacement.”
Manchester City were repeatedly linked, with it being claimed multiple times that the player was close to signing for Pep Guardiola’s side. Tottenham, Liverpool and Manchester United interest wasn’t as well reported.
The agent has also spoken about Maurizio Sarri’s importance in the player’s development, which comes since their time together at Napoli.
“He has grown a lot based on Sarri’s playing characteristic, which was in the 4-3-3, he always made that defensive midfielder that comes out for the game and fits right for his characteristics. There is a very good chemistry between them because of it.”
And after such a great start from the player at Chelsea, João Santos claims that Jorginho has ‘surprised everyone’ for adapting to Premier League football so quickly.
“He surprised everyone. They talk a lot of physical matter that exists in the Premier, that those who don’t have much physicality can’t play. Jorginho is proving the opposite. He plays against all at the same level he used to at Napoli.”
