Chelsea and Italy star Jorginho insists team glory is MORE important than push for the Ballon d’Or

Chelsea star Jorginho insists team glory is MORE important than surprise push for the Ballon d’Or, after Lorenzo Insigne said his Italy team-mate should be considered for accolade after shining at Euro 2020 and helping Blues lift the Champions League


Italy and Chelsea midfielder Jorginho has admitted he is only focused on team glory rather than any shock push for the Ballon d’Or after Lorenzo Insigne threw his name into the hat for the individual accolade. 

Speaking after Italy reached the Euro 2020 quarter-finals with a 2-1 victory over Austria on Saturday, team-mate Insigne highlighted the 29-year-old’s importance to the Azzurri, adamant he should be considered for the Ballon d’Or.

Jorginho has played a key role so far for Roberto Mancini’s side at the Euros ahead of their quarter-final showdown with Belgium, continuing his fine form after helping his club Chelsea to Champions League glory at the end of the season. 

Lorenzo Insigne (R) said Jorginho (L) should be considered when it comes to the Ballon d’Or

But ahead of Italy’s last-eight clash with Belgium in Munich on Friday, Jorginho insisted he is not even thinking about personal glory.

‘I don’t think about it,’ he said at Italy’s training base on Wednesday, when asked about the Ballon d’Or. ‘Everything that is happening is the consequence of hard work.

‘My priority is the group and celebrating together with my team-mates and friends. This is more beautiful than celebrating alone.’

Jorginho was speaking after Insigne lavished praise on his Italy team-mate – who insisted his friend’s performances should put him in the reckoning for the Ballon d’Or.

Jorginho played a starring role for Chelsea as they sealed Champions League glory last month

Jorginho played a starring role for Chelsea as they sealed Champions League glory last month

Insigne told a press conference: ‘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.’

Meanwhile, Italy go into their last-eight Euros clash with Belgium facing their first real test of the tournament so far, up against FIFA’s top-ranked team.

Jorginho has continued his fine form for Italy, who have reached the quarter-finals of the Euros

Jorginho has continued his fine form for Italy, who have reached the quarter-finals of the Euros

While Mancini’s side have impressed so far at the Euros, stretching their record unbeaten run to 31 matches, Jorginho is wary of how tough Friday will be.

‘We are aware there isn’t room for mistakes. It would be wrong to think we have already achieved something important,’ he said.

‘We need to work more and more. We are on the right path, we need to grit our teeth and we are doing it. We must respect the first team in the ranking, but everybody has weak points.’