LORENZO INSIGNE is adamant that his Italian pal Jorginho should be awarded this year’s Ballon d’Or prize.
The striker reckons the Chelsea star’s performances at Euro 2020 puts him in pole position for the accolade.
Jorginho’s been the driving force in getting the Italians to the quarter-finals of the competition, which has led to Insigne calling him ‘The Professor’.
The 30-year-old’s views echo those of ex-Blues star Cesc Fabregras who revealed Jorginho’s intelligence was one of the reasons he left the club.
When asked if the Blues midfielder should lift the prestigious French prize, Insigne said: “We have quality players. You talked about Jorginho and it’s correct.
“He had spent some fantastic years at Chelsea and I am proud to have him in our team.
“I’m not the one deciding if he deserves the Ballon d’Or, but I hope he’ll be shortlisted, he deserves so, he is a great player.
“I call him the professor and we are all happy to play with him.”
And Jorginho has the stats to back up Insigne’s claims.
The 29-year old has played in all four of the Azzuri’s games at the Euro’s.
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During those 375 minutes played he’s had 94 per cent passing accuracy and recovered the ball 23 times.
Earlier this year the ex-Napoli ace was also ranked the third best-player in Europe and the highest in the Premier League.
It’s a far cry from when he could barely get a lookin at Stamford Bridge under ex-boss Frank Lampard.
The pair had a frosty relationship which saw Jorginho regularly relegated to the bench.
But his Blues career has been on the rise since Thomas Tuchel arrived at the club in January and the pair won the Champions League together in May.
The West London side are so impressed with the half-Brazilian’s remarkable turn-around that they’re eager to begin contract extension talks with him.
He arrived at Chelsea alongside Maurizio Sarri in 2018 for £57million and his £110,000-a-week five-year deal expires in June 2023.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
