Pep Guardiola: Chelsea signing Jorginho would have made a 'mistake' joining Manchester City

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Tom Doyle21 July 2018

Pep Guardiola believes it would have been a "mistake" for Jorginho to join Manchester City if the midfielder already had his heart set on a move to Chelsea.

Jorginho looked likely to join City this summer from Napoli, but the move stalled before Chelsea swooped in to sign the £57million Italy international just hours before his former Napoli coach, Maurizio Sarri, was confirmed as the new coach at Stamford Bridge.

Widespread reports suggested City were furious with Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis during negotiations, especially with Premier League rivals Chelsea beating them to a major signing just three weeks left before the transfer window closes.

However, City coach Guardiola insists that it is best for both his club and Jorginho if the midfielder ended up working for a club and coach of his choosing.

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Before City's 1-0 defeat against Borussia Dortmund on Friday, Guardiola said of the deal: "I'm not disappointed. We tried.

"My advice for all players is they have to go where they want to go, and in the end it would have been a mistake for him and for us if he'd decided to come here when he wanted to go with Maurizio and Chelsea.

"English football receives an exceptional player. All the best for him."

Sarri has spoken of Jorginho's "technical" attributes following his move, and 26-year-old feels he gives something new to the English game.

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"Perhaps my style of play is not something that is seen in England," he said.

"I really hope that it is a good fit for the game over here and I will certainly be doing everything I can to make sure it works out."

Jorginho will compete with N'Golo Kante, Tiemoue Bakayoko, Danny Drinkwater, Ruben Lotus-Cheek and others for a starting berth this season.

"I like playing just outside of my own penalty box, the player who receives the ball and organises the game," he said.

In Pictures | Chelsea away kit 2018-19

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"Since I was little I was someone who always enjoyed challenges and for me this is just a huge challenge, professionally and personally, and it really inspires me, this opportunity to really have an experience and I am really excited about that opportunity."

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