Veteran Arsenal midfielder Jorginho is nearing the final stretch of his contract and there are reports that the Italian international is considering a return to Serie A.
Jorginho has spent the last 18 months in north London following his move from Chelsea for £12 million in January. Despite not being a regular starter, the 31-year-old midfielder contributed to Arsenal’s Premier League campaign with 14 appearances towards the end of last season, with Mikel Arteta’s team narrowly missing out on the title to Manchester City.
While this season has seen Jorginho assume a more important role, captaining the team for three consecutive matches in the absence of Martin Odegaard, his contract, set to expire next summer, raises uncertainties about his future despite Arsenal having the option to extend for a further year.
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With the possibility of non-British clubs engaging in pre-contract discussions from January if Jorginho doesn’t agree to new terms, the player has expressed his desire to return to Italy, while emphasising his commitment to Arsenal and his belief in achieving more with the team.
Speaking ahead of Italy’s Euro 2024 qualifier against North Macedonia, Jorginho said: “I’m very much in doubt, I would like to return to Italy. But I don’t know when the right time would be. I want to return yes, but I don’t know when, I feel I still have things to do at Arsenal.
“It always takes time when you change teams, but the first six months at Arsenal were not negative, on the contrary.”
The midfielder’s performances have attracted interest from Serie A clubs like Lazio, AC Milan, and his former team Napoli. Additionally, reports suggest that Barcelona, seeking a replacement for the departed Sergio Busquets, have their sights set on the Euro 2020 winner.
Despite the ongoing speculation, Jorginho is focused on his contract at Arsenal, while keeping his options open. He is also relishing his time at the Emirates and is eager to contribute to another potential Premier League title challenge this season.
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