Barcelona consider signing Arsenal player that Jose Mourinho described as ‘best in the world’
According to ESPN, Barcelona is considering the possibility of pursuing Jorginho, the holding midfielder from Arsenal.
This comes as the Italian national player has faced difficulties in securing regular playing time this season, as he has been positioned behind the club’s record-breaking signing, Declan Rice, and the versatile star, Thomas Partey, in Mikel Arteta’s list of preferred players.
The current La Liga champions, Barcelona, have reportedly expressed a strong interest in acquiring the former Chelsea player.
Xavi is rumored to have included Jorginho in his list of potential transfers as he seeks to bolster the midfield.
Barcelona let go of both Sergio Busquets and Franck Kessie earlier this year before securing the services of Oriol Romeu from Girona.
It remains uncertain whether Jorginho would be open to the move, as his agent, Joao Santos, had previously emphasized his client’s contentment in north London during the summer transfer window, amidst rumors of a possible transfer to the Turkish team, Fenerbahce.
Speaking to Italian outlet TMW last month, Santos stated, “Jorginho is focused on Arsenal, on the Premier League title race and the Champions League.
“He won’t go to Fenerbahce.” Jorginho had established himself as one of the most consistent midfielders in the game during his time at Stamford Bridge, with Jose Mourinho even claiming he was Europe’s very best back in 2019.
Speaking to BeinSport in May 2019, the former Blues manager said: “For me, Jorginho is the best midfielder in Europe. He has a quality that no-one else has: the way he controls the game, how he recovers the ball in transition and how he can withstand the pressure.
“I don’t see others like him around.”
While Jorginho may not be performing at the same level as he once did, he still brings valuable contributions to Arsenal, as demonstrated during their recent 1-0 victory over reigning champions Manchester City on Sunday afternoon.
Despite receiving a yellow card early in the match, the 31-year-old effectively controlled the Gunners’ midfield, helping them secure their first league win against City since December 2015.
Barcelona consider signing Arsenal player that Jose Mourinho described as ‘best in the world’