Jorginho & agent respond to Arsenal exit rumours
- Jorginho has been linked with a summer transfer to Lazio
- Ex-Chelsea star is under contract at Arsenal until 2024
- Player & agent have each responded to exit rumours
Arsenal midfielder Jorginho has insisted he remains 'very happy' with the Gunners amid rumours linking the Italy international with a summer move to Lazio.
Jorginho joined Arsenal in January when he traded west for north London in a £12m transfer from Chelsea and quickly became an important squad player.
The 31-year-old still has another season left on his contract, plus the option of a further 12 months until 2025. There is set to be increased competition should the Gunners wrap up a British record transfer for Declan Rice, but uncertainty surrounding both Thomas Partey and Granit Xhaka ensures an ongoing need for experience and options in the middle of the pitch.
"I was surprised but really happy by how welcome I was, how [Arsenal] treated me when I came in," Jorginho told the Evening Standard.
"It just made everything so much easier for me to know more people to integrate in the team. So it was really, really, really good and I am really, really happy.
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"I'm very happy to stay at Arsenal to be honest. Those [Lazio] rumors, I'm not sure who was behind it, to be honest, but nothing at the moment has happened to me. I'm quite happy where I am."
Jorginho's agent Joao Santos has similarly quashed suggestions the 2021 Ballon d’Or nominee will be on the move any time soon.
"Jorginho is very happy with Arsenal who have a very important championship to play, at the beginning of August there is the Community Shield," Santos told TV Play in Italy.
"There is no negotiation with Lazio. I don't know if they have the money to pay the player, but that's not the question. In our mind, there is only the Gunners next season. The theme is clear - the project for next year is to stay at Arsenal which can become the most important team in England."
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On this edition of The Chronicles of a Gooner, part of the 90min podcast network, Harry Symeou discusses the news Manchester City have pulled out of the race to sign Declan Rice after the Gunners launched a £105m bid.
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