Arsenal midfielder Jorginho has backed teammate Bukayo Saka as a future Ballon d’Or winner – provided the star winger cleans up some areas of his game.
Saka, a key player in Arsenal’s revival under Mikel Arteta, has already made 287 senior appearances for club and country at the age of just 23. His stunning form this season has seen him contribute 18 goals in 18 games, with his ten Premier League assists on course to challenge the league’s single-season record of 20, jointly held by Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne.
Speaking on Rio Ferdinand Presents, Jorginho lauded Saka’s immense talent, referring to him as “unbelievable” and “world-class.” The Euro 2020 winner added, “I told him, ‘I want to see you win the Ballon d’Or.’ I believe in him, and I hope he believes in himself too.
To reach the next level, Jorginho hinted that Saka could make more difference during matches by finding a good position in the box when the attack is on the other flank. Comparing Saka’s trajectory with Cristiano Ronaldo’s development, Jorginho insisted that hunger and anticipation are two of the most important elements and urged Saka to exploit such moments to get on the scoresheet more often.
It’s the little things,” Jorginho noted. “I want to see him get in the box for headers. Easy, he can score more.