The agent of Jorginho has warned the Brazilian and Italian Football Federations that the Napoli midfielder will represent the first country that calls on his services.
Jorginho is widely regarded as one of the most underrated midfielders in Europe and has been in immense form for Napoli in recent seasons.
The 25-year-old has two caps for Italy but hasn’t featured for the Azzurri since May 2016 and reports emerged over the international break suggesting the Napoli ace was fed up at being constantly overlooked by the Italian national team.
Reports claimed Jorginho had even gone to the extreme of requesting to switch international allegiances to the country of his birth, Brazil, but his agent, Joao Santos, has rubbished those suggestions.
“Today in the Italian press, a story appeared that Jorginho had called the Italian Federation to free him in favour of Brazil,” Santos told Radio CRC, via Football Italia.
“In all the years I’ve been in the football world I’ve never heard of such absurdity. Jorginho, moreover, wouldn’t even be allowed to make that phone call.
“We’re talking about something which is only between the federations and institutions, not people. It also depends on the choices of the two national team coaches.”
While Santos rebuffed suggestions Jorginho wanted to switch international allegiances, which he can as he has only appeared in friendlies for Italy, he did reveal that his client would consider representing Brazil.
“At the moment neither of the two has called him, he’ll choose the first national team that calls him. We’re waiting for November for the next matches.”
No player in Europe’s top five leagues averages more passes per game than Jorginho this season (105).
