Flamengo have keen interest in signing Arsenal’s Jorginho in the summer window.
The midfielder could leave the Gunners when his contract with them expires in June. On Wednesday, he and his family were pictured outside an airport in Rio de Janeiro.
This fuelled rumours of his summer move to Flamengo, but the Arsenal player insisted he was in Brazil for a vacation.
ESPN in Brazil had a chat with the 33-year-old, where he stated that he would like to play in Brazil. Coluna Do Fla have relayed his comments.
Jorginho was born in Brazil but moved to Italy at a young age. He came up through the ranks of Hellas Verona’s academy and spent four years with their first team before joining Napoli in 2014.
The former Chelsea man hasn’t played in Brazil and is ‘curious’ to have an experience in that country.
“I don’t believe that I missed out. But I am curious, today, to know what it’s like [to play in Brazil], to experience it,” he said.
“But for my growth, playing professionally was not a problem. What helped me was when I was a child, for my growth. In Brazil it’s different. I played barefoot on the street, on the beach. I think that helped me a lot in terms of growing up in contact with the ball.”
Flamengo have presented him an opportunity to play in Brazil after this season. Jorginho has been handling an offer from the South American club and needs to make a decision on whether to accept it.
Journalist Venê Casagrande interviewed Flamengo sporting director José Boto, who is hopeful that the Arsenal man joins his side, relayed by Coluna Do Fla.
“Right now, the ball is in his court, and he usually treats the ball well,” Boto explained.
“I hope he treats it well in the sense that it is better for him and for us. In other words, he will come to Flamengo.
“If everything goes well, he will play in the World Cup for Flamengo. The league ends in May, the players change clubs and there is an agreement between the clubs to release the athletes as soon as the season ends.”
On Wednesday, Goal Brasil reported Jorginho wants a meeting with new Arsenal director before deciding to leave the Emirates. The Gunners are yet to make an appointment after Edu Gaspar’s exit last November.
