Lazio manager Maurizio Sarri believes Jorginho should be a candidate for the Ballon d’Or ‘if he wins the European Championship’.
Jorginho has been outstanding with Chelsea and Italy this year, winning the UEFA Champions League at club level and helping the Azzurri to the semi-finals of the Euros.
Ahead of today’s game against Spain, his former head coach at both Napoli and Chelsea praised the Brazilian-born midfielder.
“If he wins the European Championship, he is a candidate for the Ballon d’Or,” Sarri told SportItalia. “He’s a refined player and that’s why everyone doesn’t understand him.
“He makes everything seem easy, it’s his greatness. When I went to Chelsea, we managed to snatch him from Manchester City.
“At first it was hard to understand him, the fans, the journalist, now I see that he is appreciated. He was also the captain of Chelsea.”
The former Napoli coach spoke to the press for the first time since accepting the managerial role at Lazio, as he signed a two-year contract to replace Simone Inzaghi at the Olimpico.
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Sarri spoke about his year with Juventus in the interview with SportItalia. He said: “In these 332 days without speaking, I have been with my family. I have read a lot, I have watched many games. And I have watched many cycling races, one of the things I like the most.
“I come from a family of cyclists, it’s a family passion. It’s been a very special year; it didn’t bother me so much to be out. The situation didn’t make me want to come back.”
