Jorginho will give up £800k in compensation from Arsenal to play for Flamengo at the Club World Cup, according to a report from Brazil.
Brazilian journalist Vene Casagrande initially reported on Friday that Flamengo faced a £800,000 problem to get Jorginho to play for them in the Club World Cup.
If Jorginho sees out the remainder of his Arsenal contract, he’ll be owed that £800,000 figure in compensation. But he doesn’t want to see it out, because that would mean waiting until June 30th to sign for Flamengo, with the Club World Cup kicking off on June 14th.
Flamengo aren’t keen to pick up the bill, as they don’t feel £800,000 is good value for less than a month of football. Jorginho could just register to play for them mid-tournament if he waited until July 1st.
Fortunately, Casagrande subsequently provided another update on Sunday to reveal that Jorginho has decided to give up the £800,000 at his own expense, terminating his contract and signing for Flamengo in time for the start of the summer tournament.
If that’s the case, the transfer window is now officially open, so he’s free to do so.
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.”