Reports of Jorginho’s contract termination have been played down, with new suggestions that he may only join Flamengo on July 1st.
In recent days, some reports from Brazil emerged suggesting Jorginho had decided to give up the final payments he’s owed by Arsenal in order to complete an early transfer to Flamengo.
Jorginho’s Arsenal deal only ends on June 30th, but Flamengo are participating in the Club World Cup from June 17th. Ideally, they’d want him to cut his contract short and join them in the next few days.
Yet Pablo Oliveira disputes claims that the midfielder has agreed to do so, writing that it’s instead “very likely” he’ll only join Flamengo on July 1st.
Oliveira reports that he hasn’t heard anything about Jorginho giving up the remainder of his Arsenal salary to leave early, and he’ll simply leave the Gunners on the conclusion of his contract.
That would mean missing the first three fixtures of the Club World Cup, and potentially missing out on the tournament altogether if Flamengo are eliminated before the knockout stages.
It would also mean Arsenal having to pay Jorginho the final wages and bonuses he’s owed, with reports suggesting that’s in the region of £800,000.
Jorginho has already said his goodbyes to Arsenal, both on and off the pitch. He waved farewell to the fans following the season’s final game against Southampton, then shared a post on social media.
“When I arrived at Arsenal, I wasn’t just joining a club,” Jorginho began. “I was stepping into a family. A team full of hunger, passion, purpose. I gave everything I had, every day, every match, not just for the results, but for this shirt, for the fans.
“Your support… it meant everything. Whether I was starting or on the bench, you made me feel valued, loved. That’s rare in football and I’ll never forget it.
“Now, it’s time to say goodbye, or maybe a ‘see you soon’. When a place feels like home, a farewell is never easy, but I leave with my head held high and my heart full.
“To my teammates, thank you for trusting me, for pushing me. To the coach, the staff, and the whole people behind the scenes, thank you for the support on the pitch, off the pitch, and for always being there for me with kindness and love.
“And to the fans, thank you for singing my name, for believing in me. Thank you Arsenal.”