Jorginho gunning for old side Chelsea with Flamengo at Club World Cup
The 33-year-old Italy midfielder returned to the country of his birth earlier this month when he joined Rio de Janeiro powerhouses Flamengo on a three-year contract.
That ended a long career in Europe, which began in Italy -- the land of his paternal great-grandfather -- 15 years ago and saw him star in Serie A for Hellas Verona and Napoli before a move to Chelsea in 2018.
He made more than 200 appearances for the Stamford Bridge side, helping them win the Europa League in 2019 and Champions League in 2021.
"It is nice to come up against a former team, and see old friends," Jorginho told reporters this week in Philadelphia, where Chelsea and Flamengo will meet at FIFA's new tournament.
The two clubs are jostling for supremacy in Group D after both won their opening matches on Monday, with Flamengo defeating Esperance while Chelsea overcame Los Angeles FC.
"I am ready to help in any way I can, on or off the field. It will be a really difficult game. We know how good a team they are and we will have to be prepared for it."
Jorginho, who spent the last two and a half years at Arsenal, has joined a Flamengo side who are top of the Brazilian league and through to the knockout phase of the Copa Libertadores, a competition they last won in 2022.
He will have to wait until next month to run out for his new team at the legendary Maracana in Rio, but his debut for Flamengo came in their 2-0 victory over Tunisian side Esperance in their opening Club World Cup game at Lincoln Financial Field on Monday.
Big ambitions
"I have not yet had the chance to play at the Maracana and I can't wait for that but I think it was a good debut for the whole team. The fans were right behind us as always. It has been easy for me to adapt and settle in," he said.
Jorginho is working under another former Chelsea player in Filipe Luis, the 39-year-old who took over as coach late last year.
Flamengo have real ambitions of making a big impact at the Club World Cup, with their experienced squad also featuring the likes of Danilo and Alex Sandro, two Brazilian international defenders who returned home after spells in Europe.
Midfielder Gerson, striker Pedro, Chile's Erick Pulgar and Uruguay's Giorgian de Arrascaeta are others who add knowledge of top-level international football in South America.
Flamengo are hoping to extend the impressive unbeaten record so far at the tournament for the six South American representatives -- four from Brazil and two from Argentina.
"It is an important competition and those of us who are playing in it are privileged," said Jorginho, who has appeared over 50 times for Italy but grew up in Imbituba, a port town in southern Brazil.
He believes his new team can go far at the competition, with Friday's game being followed by a meeting with Los Angeles FC in Orlando next Tuesday.
Bayern Munich, Benfica and Boca Juniors are possible opponents in the last 16 if they make it through to the knockout phase.
"I believe we have a chance of winning if we keep faith in our squad and in the work we are doing. Brazilian teams don't usually get to play against European teams and everyone is eager to see Flamengo compete."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Euronews
3 hours ago
- Euronews
Carlo Ancelotti: Can he lead Brazil to World Cup glory?
With 31 major medals won as a coach - including five Champions League titles - Carlo Ancelotti is the most successful club manager in the history of the sport. The 65-year-old has taken on a new challenge as the head coach of the Brazilian national team. Can Ancelotti lead 'La Seleção' back to their former glories? ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ
France 24
5 hours ago
- France 24
Messi strikes as Inter Miami stun Porto at Club World Cup
The Argentine superstar found the top corner with a second half set-piece to clinch a surprise victory for the MLS side and give them a strong chance of progressing from Group A. Inter Miami and Palmeiras have four points each, after the Brazilian side beat Al Ahly 2-0 earlier on -- the Egyptians like Porto have one point. Samu Aghehowa's early penalty gave the Portuguese side the lead as they had the better of the first half and could have scored more. However Telasco Segovia blasted Miami level and then Messi's free-kick helped them claim a noteworthy scalp, in a match many thought would be straightforward for Porto. Co-owned by former England international David Beckham, Inter Miami played their first MLS match in 2020 and signed Messi in 2023, raising their profile significantly. This was the first competitive victory for an MLS side over European opposition, in their second encounter after Chelsea beat Los Angeles FC earlier in the week. "It's a huge joy, the whole team made a big effort, we worked really well," Messi told DAZN. "It's a really important win for us and we have to enjoy it... "You can see that we want to compete, and today we competed against a really good European team... we knew that today we were weaker, but we had our strengths." Even with Messi, arguably the face of the tournament, the Mercedes-Benz Stadium was under half-full at kick-off, hamstrung by another 3:00 pm kick-off on a working day as it was for Chelsea's opener at the venue. More fans entered throughout the game, keen to get a glimpse of the 37-year-old widely considered to be the game's greatest ever player, with nearly 32,000 present in the end. Messi did not disappoint and was the game's outstanding player, involved heavily from the off. The former Barcelona great clipped a dipping ball in behind for veteran striker Luis Suarez, who could only prod it at the goalkeeper. Porto took the lead in the eighth minute after being awarded a soft penalty after a VAR review, as Miami defender Noah Allen made light contact with Joao Mario in the box. Spain international Samu Aghehowa beat Oscar Ustari, who had saved a penalty in the goalless draw against Al Ahly, even though the stopper got a hand to his low effort. Uruguayan striker Suarez, 38, might have levelled after Messi threaded him through on goal but, forced to use his weaker left foot, Porto goalkeeper Claudio Ramos denied him. Javier Mascherano's side almost levelled through US international Benjamin Cremaschi after a charge forward from Suarez broke open Porto's defence, but Ramos made a smart near post stop to thwart him. Maximiliano Falcon brilliantly headed off his own goal-line with Ustari beaten by Rodrigo Mora's effort to keep Inter Miami hopes alive. Ustari denied Aghehowa and then scrambled the ball to safety as it rolled towards his net after Alan Varela crashed a shot off the upright and it hit him on the back, as Porto turned the screw before the break. 'Clutch moment' Inter Miami levelled right at the start of the second half, with Segovia blasting home Marcelo Weigandt's inviting cut-back to stun the Portuguese side. Messi then sent Miami ahead with a goal all of his own making after 54 minutes. The playmaker was brought down outside the area and dusted himself down before arrowing a classic Messi free-kick into the top right corner. "(Messi) is a leader, he's the player he is, he's the greatest player in the world," Inter Miami forward Fafa Picault told DAZN. "I had a feeling (the free-kick) was going in. That was a great goal, a great show of leadership and coming in a clutch moment for us." Miami battled hard to keep Porto at bay and groans travelled around the stadium after seven minutes of stoppage time was announced. Mascherano's players thew themselves in the way of shots in a way the former Argentine defensive midfielder would have done himself, and Inter Miami were eventually able to claim their much-craved victory. © 2025 AFP
France 24
5 hours ago
- France 24
Jorginho gunning for old side Chelsea with Flamengo at Club World Cup
The 33-year-old Italy midfielder returned to the country of his birth earlier this month when he joined Rio de Janeiro powerhouses Flamengo on a three-year contract. That ended a long career in Europe, which began in Italy -- the land of his paternal great-grandfather -- 15 years ago and saw him star in Serie A for Hellas Verona and Napoli before a move to Chelsea in 2018. He made more than 200 appearances for the Stamford Bridge side, helping them win the Europa League in 2019 and Champions League in 2021. "It is nice to come up against a former team, and see old friends," Jorginho told reporters this week in Philadelphia, where Chelsea and Flamengo will meet at FIFA's new tournament. The two clubs are jostling for supremacy in Group D after both won their opening matches on Monday, with Flamengo defeating Esperance while Chelsea overcame Los Angeles FC. "I am ready to help in any way I can, on or off the field. It will be a really difficult game. We know how good a team they are and we will have to be prepared for it." Jorginho, who spent the last two and a half years at Arsenal, has joined a Flamengo side who are top of the Brazilian league and through to the knockout phase of the Copa Libertadores, a competition they last won in 2022. He will have to wait until next month to run out for his new team at the legendary Maracana in Rio, but his debut for Flamengo came in their 2-0 victory over Tunisian side Esperance in their opening Club World Cup game at Lincoln Financial Field on Monday. Big ambitions "I have not yet had the chance to play at the Maracana and I can't wait for that but I think it was a good debut for the whole team. The fans were right behind us as always. It has been easy for me to adapt and settle in," he said. Jorginho is working under another former Chelsea player in Filipe Luis, the 39-year-old who took over as coach late last year. Flamengo have real ambitions of making a big impact at the Club World Cup, with their experienced squad also featuring the likes of Danilo and Alex Sandro, two Brazilian international defenders who returned home after spells in Europe. Midfielder Gerson, striker Pedro, Chile's Erick Pulgar and Uruguay's Giorgian de Arrascaeta are others who add knowledge of top-level international football in South America. Flamengo are hoping to extend the impressive unbeaten record so far at the tournament for the six South American representatives -- four from Brazil and two from Argentina. "It is an important competition and those of us who are playing in it are privileged," said Jorginho, who has appeared over 50 times for Italy but grew up in Imbituba, a port town in southern Brazil. He believes his new team can go far at the competition, with Friday's game being followed by a meeting with Los Angeles FC in Orlando next Tuesday. Bayern Munich, Benfica and Boca Juniors are possible opponents in the last 16 if they make it through to the knockout phase. "I believe we have a chance of winning if we keep faith in our squad and in the work we are doing. Brazilian teams don't usually get to play against European teams and everyone is eager to see Flamengo compete."
