90min

Jorginho & Maurizio Sarri 'Have Not Communicated' for 12 Months Despite Transfer Speculation

By Duncan Mitchell

Jorginho & Maurizio Sarri are thought to have spoken for a year.
Jorginho & Maurizio Sarri are thought to have spoken for a year. / BEN STANSALL/Getty Images
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Chelsea midfielder Jorginho has not spoken to former manager Maurizio Sarri over the past 12 months, despite speculation linking the pair with a reunion at Juventus.

The 28-year-old played under Sarri at Napoli before following him to Stamford Bridge in the summer of 2018, helping the Italian win his first piece of silverware as a manager last season as Chelsea scooped the Europa League.

Maurizio Sarri is now in charge at Juventus.
Maurizio Sarri is now in charge at Juventus. / DeFodi Images/Getty Images

Ever since Sarri departed for Juventus at the beginning of the season, there has been incessant speculation linking Jorginho with a return to his homeland.

But, despite the ongoing speculation, The Athletic report that the pair 'have not communicated' at all for the past twelve months, adding that Jorginho has 'fallen in love' with London and is keen to continue proving his doubters in England wrong.

Jorginho was heavily criticised during his first season for the west London club, with fans bemoaning the monotonous nature of the much talked about 'Sarriball' - which frustrated and entertained in equal measure.

Jorginho has impressed under Frank Lampard's management.
Jorginho has impressed under Frank Lampard's management. / Visionhaus/Getty Images

But this season, he has been a vital part of Chelsea's push towards Europe and has become a strong leader in a young dressing room, further highlighted by his appointment as vice-captain.

Despite an upturn in form and appreciation, it is believed that Chelsea would listen to offers for the Brazilian-born maestro. A swap deal is far more likely at the present time, though - with finances across the globe impacted by the coronavirus - so any move to Turin may have to include Miralem Pjanic, who is the only like-for-like replacement at Juventus who has been linked to the deal.

In terms of what may happen between now and the end of the season, Jorginho is likely to have a fight on his hand for regular starts. N'Golo Kante is now fully fit, Mateo Kovacic has performed more than admirably in this, his breakthrough season and Ruben Loftus-Cheek is back from injury. Oh, and Billy Gilmour is the new kid on the block.

Miralem Pjanic has been linked with Chelsea.
Miralem Pjanic has been linked with Chelsea. / Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images

An exit in the summer can't be ruled out - especially as Chelsea have already splashed the cash on Hakim Ziyech and look likely to do the same for German star Timo Werner - but any deal may hinge on how Jorginho performs between now and the end of the season. If he impresses, Lampard may not be keen to sanction a move away after all.