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.
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.
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.
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