Arsenal Block Exit For This Midfield Ace – Right Call By The Gunners? | OneFootball

According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, veteran midfield ace Jorginho is set to join Flamengo as a free agent once his contract with Arsenal expires at the end of the current campaign. The Brazilian outfit wanted to have him this month in a cut-price deal. But the Gunners rejected the offer as they wanted to keep hold of him in their quest for the Premier League crown.

Born in Brazil, the 33-year-old Italy international left his hometown club Brusque as a teenager in favour of a move to Hellas Verona. After a successful spell with the reserves followed by an impressive loan stint at Sambonifacese, Jorginho cemented a starting status for the Yellow and Blues. He was pivotal to their top-flight promotion before plying his trade to Napoli in January 2014.

His stellar form in Naples earned him a staggering £50m (potentially rising to £57m) transfer to Chelsea in summer of 2018. The Azzurri star was a regular at Stamford Bridge as he went on to make 213 appearances until January 2023. Arsenal splashed £12m to secure his services and the versatile playmaker has so far been involved as a sporadic option in the centre of the pitch.

GIRONA, SPAIN – JANUARY 29: Jorginho of Arsenal celebrates scoring his team’s first goal from the penalty spot during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD8 match between Girona FC and Arsenal FC at Montilivi Stadium on January 29, 2025 in Girona, Spain. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

Right Call From Arsenal?

Although he is behind Martin Odegaard, Declan Rice, Thomas Partey and Mikel Merino in the pecking order, Mikel Arteta has deployed him quite often to utilise his experience and technical traits. Despite lacking physicality, Jorginho gained success in the Premier League for his intelligence, vision, awareness, pressing, passing and game-reading attributes. Not only does he offer stability from the base as a ‘number six’ but also scripts swift attacking transitions while operating from a box-to-box role.

Jorginho has featured 72 times over the past two years suggesting his responsibilities have been a lot more than a mere bit-part player. This appears to be the reason why Arteta has blocked his egress midway through the season, particularly when they are keeping pace with Liverpool in the title race along with an emphatic Champions League group phase performance.

Meanwhile, Arsenal are likely to welcome Martin Zubimendi in North London upon the conclusion of the 2024-25 season. The arrival of the highly-rated Spaniard would further jeopardize Jorginho’s minutes in the middle of the park, whereas a switch to Flamengo would offer him an opportunity to represent Rubro-Negro in the prestigious FIFA Club World Cup 2025. However, the London hotshots have made the right call by blocking a winter exit and the Italian, a top professional throughout his illustrious career, would pour his heart and soul into it before bidding adieu to English football.