Jorginho is one of the best midfielders in European football. His passing range and ability to control the pace of the game make him a player the team should build around. Maurizio Sarri did it twice. First, he made Jorginho the centerpiece of the impressive Napoli side that played arguably the most aesthetically pleasing football in the Italian league and almost brought Juventus’ dominance in the league to an end. Then, when he became Chelsea manager, the first player he signed was Jorginho. He is so highly rated that he was linked by top clubs like Manchester City, Liverpool and Manchester United before joining Chelsea.

Born name

Jorge Luiz Frello Filho

nickname

Jorginho

Sun sign

Protect

Place of birth

Imbituba, Santa Catarina, Brazil

Residence

London, England

nationality

training

Jorginho started his football journey with the Italian club’s youth academy, Verona .

occupation

Professional soccer player

family

• Father – unknown
• Mother – Maria Tereza Freitas (former soccer player, she also worked as a cleaning lady)
• Siblings – unknown

Manager

Jorginho will be represented by JSports Management’s Joao Santos.

Position

midfield player

Shirt Number

19 – Hellas Verona

8 – SSC Naples

5 – FC Chelsea

7, 14 – Italy national team

To build

Athletic

Height

5 feet 11 inches or 180 cm

weight

71 kg or 156.5 lbs

girlfriend/spouse

Jorginho has dated

1. Natalie – Jorginho is married to Natalie. Jorginho doesn’t like to talk much about his private life, which is why the details of his relationship and marriage to Natalie are not known. During her marriage she gave birth to her son. According to his Instagram post in July 2018, they are expecting their second child.

race/ethnicity

Multiracial (White and Latino)

He is of Italian and Brazilian descent.

hair colour

dark brown

eye color

Green

sexual orientation

Just

distinguishing features

• Light body
• Often keeps a beard

brand promotion

Jorginho has a personal endorsement deal with Nike . Because of the deal, he wears Nike shoes for his professional matches.

Religion

His religious views are not known.

Known for

His successful spell with Italian football club, Napoli . He made 160 appearances over four and a half seasons for the Italian powerhouse and established himself as one of the top midfielders in the Italian league. He also won Coppa Italia and Supercoppa Italiana with the club.

First football game

In September 2011, Jorginho made his debut for his youth club, Hellas Verona . He came on as a substitute in the 76th minute against Sassuolo.

In August 2018 he made his first appearance for London club, Chelsea in the FA Community Shield match against Manchester City at Wembley Stadium. He was booed by City fans as he was previously being courted by the club and was about to complete a move before Chelsea stepped in.

In March 2016 he made his debut for Italy national team in an international friendly against Spain. He was brought on by Italian coach Antonio Conte at the last minute.

Strengthen

• serenity
• versatility
• Front check
• pass
• positioning
• Technical ability
• Working speed
• tackle
• Ability to control the pace of the game

weaknesses

He has no obvious weaknesses in his game.

Personal trainer

His exercise routine and diet plan are unknown.

Jorginho favorite things

• Influences – Andrea Pirlo and Xavi

Jorginho facts

1. Since his grandparents are from Veneto, he received an Italian passport that enabled him to move to Verona at the age of 15. It was a difficult step for him as he was very close to his mother.
2. His first and most important coach was his mother, who had played soccer herself. She took him to the beach for sand training, which improved his technical skills.
3. When he moved to Verona, he did not have an employment contract. He eventually managed to earn one, earning him a weekly salary of €20.
4. At the start of the 2010-2011 season, he was loaned out by Hellas Verona to AC Sambonifacese’s Serie C2. He made 31 appearances in the season and went on to record 10 assists and 1 goal.
5. He moved to Napoli in January 2014 when the Naples-based club struck a co-ownership deal with Verona. Jorginho signed a four and a half year contract with the club.
6. In Napoli, he initially struggled to become part of the eleven under Spanish coach Rafael Benitez. However, the arrival of Italian manager Maurizio Sarri helped his cause.
7. Sarri made him the crucial clog of his possession-based playstyle. Sarri also played a key role in his overall development as he improved his tactical discipline and game reading.
8. He joined Chelsea in July 2018 when the London club paid the £50m transfer fee to buy him from Napoli. His signing was announced on the same day as Sarri’s appointment.
9. Before he pledged his international career to Italy, he was courted by Brazil. He has also insisted in his interviews that his playing style is more in line with European principles.
10. Follow him on Instagram.