Arsenal midfielder Jorginho has recently spoken out about the pressures faced by young footballers.
In an interview with The Times, Arsenal star Jorginho spoke about how the financial aspects of top level football can effect young players coming up in the game.
Discussing young players he’s seen try to deal with the money they earn, the 31-year-old midfielder said: “I get the feeling if they have support…or if they are kind of lost. Then I see if there’s potential for me to help…Then I’m like, ‘Whoa, come on.’ I need to speak with the guy. Too many watches, too many cars. And diamonds. And clothes…And I’m like ‘It’s a bit too much, isn’t it?’…It can be dangerous.”
As a senior member of the Arsenal squad – which is an especially youthful squad in general – Jorginho will have a key role to play in guiding his teammates. The 48-cap Italy international has played over 500 senior club games across the course of his career so far, and has enjoyed spells with major clubs such as Chelsea and Napoli, before his £12 million switch to the Emirates Stadium in January.
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Jorginho is a leader on and off the pitch
That experience, as much as his passing ability and technical security, will be what attracted Mikel Arteta to Jorginho. The Arsenal manager will have been delighted with Jorginho’s comments on young players needing support and protection in football. If Jorginho is fulfilling that role in the Gunners’ dressing room, he will be invaluable to Arteta.
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The likes of Bukayo Saka, Fabio Vieira, Emile Smith Rowe, Gabriel Martinelli, and William Saliba are all young players in the limelight in north London. Having a figure like Jorginho to learn from, and benefit from the wisdom of, could prove to be a massive factor in their future success.
He is also a leader on the pitch. Whilst not a regular starter, Jorginho is able to dictate the tempo of games and retain possession in pressurised scenarios. When Arsenal are defending a lead, rather than bringing on an extra centre-back to defend the box and invite pressure, Arteta would much rather turn to Jorginho who can guide the team over the line with the ball at his feet.