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<\/p>\nJORGINHO has won the Champions League, European Championship and come third in the Ballon d'Or during his illustrious career.<\/p>\n
He is aiming to add a Premier League title to his already-enviable trophy collection with Arsenal this season.<\/p>\n
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But his career nearly ended before it had even got off the ground when he was betrayed by someone that he thought had been looking after his best interests.<\/p>\n
Born in Brazilian coastal town Imbituba, Jorginho moved to Italy as a teenager in order to chase his football dream.<\/p>\n
During his early years in Hellas Verona's academy he had to make do with very little while living in a monastery.<\/p>\n
Little did he know that things needn't have been so difficult.<\/p>\n
Opening up while appearing on the The Athletic Football Podcast., Jorginho revealed: "Basically I went to Italy, I was getting 20 euros per week, I was living in a monastery.<\/p>\n "We wouldn't see the priest, there was one part with the priest but there was this other part with a corridor of bedrooms for students and young players – I used to live in there with five boys.<\/p>\n "There were six of us in the room and we were treated so well. We had breakfast, lunch and dinner there and at that point when I went there I was 15.<\/p>\n "We used to live with 20 euros per week for one-and-a-half years. After one-and-a-half years I found out that the agent took money. I don't want to say how much, but in that situation it was a lot.<\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n FREE BETS – BEST BETTING OFFERS & NEW CUSTOMER BONUSES<\/strong><\/p>\n "I found out. I went crazy, for me, football was over in that moment. I wanted to go back home. I wanted to give up. I called home crying and I said 'this is enough for me'."<\/p>\n Luckily for the midfielder, his nearest and dearest talked him around.<\/p>\n "I missed so much, I missed my teenage years, I missed my friends, my family," he added.<\/p>\n "I missed home and I'm living with 20 euros per week. I can't help my mum and my dad so what am I doing here?<\/p>\n "I called home crying and fortunately I had parents who said no to me. They said you've come to far now so you're not coming back.<\/p>\n "At that time I was training with the first team, I was 17 and I was training with the first team and my parents said no, you are too close, you cannot give up now.<\/p>\n "They convinced me to stay fortunately and then things started to change."<\/p>\n On his former agent, he added: "I was 17 and I didn't have a pre-contract, nothing. In that situation it was unusual because another boy had one even though he wasn't training with the first team.<\/p>\n "I asked my agent why I didn't have a pre-contract and he used to say, 'sorry, they don't want to do one for you.'<\/p>\n "Then I met one of my best friends and he spoke to his agent about it. It came out that basically the team would speak with him because I was underage – he would ask for more money and tell me that the team didn't want to have a contract.<\/p>\n "I consider myself a good guy and I thought my dad was right, this world wasn't right for me. But then I met good people."<\/p>\n During a previous piece for the Players' Tribune, Jorginho recounted the reality of life in Hellas Verona's academy.<\/p>\n He said: "I\u2019d go to the main square in Verona and buy a milkshake at McDonald\u2019s.<\/p>\n "It cost one euro. Fries? Burger? Forget it, man! Happy Meals were for the rich kids."<\/p>\n Jorginho, now 31, went on to burst onto the scene with Hellas Verona's first team, earning a switch to Napoli in 2014.<\/p>\n After nearly winning the Serie A title, the midfielder followed Maurizio Sarri to Chelsea in 2018.<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/crop-24731031.jpg\")
<\/picture>DOUBLE DUTCH <\/span><\/p>\nMy dad's an Arsenal and a Prem icon… now I'm making my own way in non-league<\/h3>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/RR-BETTING-PADDY-POWER-football-1.jpg\")
<\/picture>POWER UP <\/span><\/p>\nGet \u00a340 in free bets when you stake \u00a310 with Paddy Power<\/h3>\n
Most read in Football<\/h2>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/RR-barton-v1_combo.jpg\")
<\/picture>LAUR & DISORDER <\/span><\/p>\nBarton goads Laura Woods & Bianca Westwood amid storm over sexist remarks<\/h3>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/newspress-collage-h2y9nez5e-1702041517911.jpg\")
<\/picture>SHARP SHOT <\/span><\/p>\nAlex Scott laughs off Barton’s rant that she \u2018SHOULDN\u2019T comment on men\u2019s game\u2019<\/h3>\n
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<\/picture>‘SEASON STARTS NOW’ <\/span><\/p>\nMan Utd fans say ‘we’re going to be SCARY’ as forgotten man returns<\/h3>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/newspress-collage-cgrrjy0yk-1701986190256.jpg\")
<\/picture>LADIES BAN <\/span><\/p>\nJoey Barton says Alex Scott ‘SHOULDN’T comment on men’s game’ in sexist rant<\/h3>\n
Read more on The Sun<\/h2>\n
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