Jorginho has snubbed Lionel Messi and Mohamed Salah by revealing he would pick Manchester City’s Kevin de Bruyne to win the Ballon d’Or award – if he couldn’t vote for himself.
Jorginho was named on the Ballon d’Or shortlist after winning the UEFA Champions League with Chelsea and European Championships with Italy.
His Chelsea team-mates N’Golo Kante, Mason Mount, Azpilicueta and Romelu Lukaku were also selected on the 30-player shortlist, but Bayern’s Robert Lewandowski, PSG’s Lionel Messi and Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah are the frontrunners for the award.
Jorginho has joked he would vote for himself if he had the opportunity as ‘at least he would get one’ nomination, but went on to explain why De Bruyne deserves the award.
‘If I don’t vote for me, who will? I want to have at least one vote! Just kidding,’ Jorginho told ESPN Brasil.
‘I believe I’d vote for Kevin de Bruyne for everything he’s been doing and for the beautiful football he’s been showing in recent years.
‘For those who like football, it’s great to see him play because he understands football, he is a player with above-average intelligence.’
Jorginho also revealed how he has adapted his game since arriving in England, with the Italian midfielder winning the European cup, Europa League & Super Cup at Stamford Bridge.
‘I’ve always tried to put my game in the Premier League, not the other way around,’ he added.
‘I learned the issue of physical contact and intensity. I put it in my style, because I don’t have the physical build to want to go into the Premier League style of running and brawling. I get this, I try to insert it into my style of play.’
