There’s a huge debate regarding Italy star Jorginho as, despite being considered a candidate to win the Ballon d’Or, is still underrated by many, writes Vijay Rahaman.

When Football Italia exclusively interviewed Jorginho’s agent Joao Santos before the beginning of the Euros, he revealed Brazil had been in talks with the at-the-time Hellas Verona regista, offering him to join the Seleçao, although they could not grant him a starting spot.

Had that conversation been held nowadays, the contents would be much different, Joao Santos admitted.

The Chelsea star has been one of Italy’s best players at UEFA Euro 2020. Surely, one of Mancini’s untouchables and the quarter-finals against Belgium once again proved the importance of the former Napoli man in the middle of the park for La Nazionale.

The first half of the Allianz Arena tie against Belgium offered a fresh example of that. As Lorenzo Insigne played the ball towards him, Jorginho calmly and cooly pulled it back and stepped away from the covering Thorgan Hazard to continue another Italy attack. It was just one of several classy and decisive moves the regista has displayed during the continental competition.

 

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Un post condiviso da Jorginho Frello (@jorginhofrello)

The man who went to Italy at just 15 to join the Hellas Verona youth academy from Imbituba has continued to display his qualities. Despite his contribution to both club Chelsea and La Nazionale, he has not been without his critics, but real followers of the game know his true worth.

He sits in front of Gli Azzurri’s back four protecting the defence both with his tactical nous and his alertness to potential danger. Again, a prime example of that was against Belgium last Friday when the Red Devils danger man Jeremy Doku evaded two defenders and was seemingly about to have a free shot on goal. That was until Jorginho stepped in to take the ball away from the Rennes forward.

It was one of six ball recoveries the player was involved in at the Allianz Arena in Munich, not bad for a player accused of lacking defensive attitude. Added to 21 tackles and numerous other interceptions, which place him second behind club teammate N’Golo Kante, Jorginho’s defensive capabilities can not be questioned.

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The 29-year old keeps things ticking over for Roberto Mancini’s men. He always makes himself available for his teammates, either to relieve them from the opposition’s pressure or to keep building an attack. During the Belgium match, Jorginho had a 99% pass rate accuracy, that’s right, 99%. Nearly perfect. Considering how often he is on the ball as the engine room, that is a remarkable stat.

Overall, he has a 95% passing rate at the Euros. The Brazil-born regista does indeed make penetrative forward passes, despite his critics either not seeing it or maybe, not wanting to acknowledge it. He did the same at Napoli under Maurizio Sarri, and now he’s doing the same at Chelsea, where he’s won one Europa League and one Champions League.

Sarri has joined the campaign to give Jorginho the Ballon d’Or if Italy triumph at the Euros. ‘Jorgi’ will certainly be in the conversation, given his extraordinary achievements this season, both at a club and international level, but it remains to be seen if he will be given the highest recognition for a footballer, even if Italy are crowned Champions of Europe. For now, the Azzurri can enjoy the contribution of one of the best, but yet most underrated, registas in the world.

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