Italian national team manager Roberto Mancini has praised the qualities of Inter midfielder Stefano Sensi, who he considers the closest thing to a direct deputy or successor to Jorginho in the starting lineup for the Azzurri.
Speaking in a press conference, as reported by FCInterNews, the Italian tactician explained that the 26-year-old has the right qualities to take over from the Chelsea midfielder in the team.
Jorginho established himself as one of the Azzurri’s most consistent and important performers on the way to the country’s EURO 2020 triumph this summer, dictating the tempo of matches from a deep midfield role.
The Chelsea midfielder will not be around forever, however, or could be unavailable, and head coach Mancini is considering his options for a replacement for him in the team.
Mancini names a couple other midfielders as being able to play the holding role, but he singles out Sensi as the player who has the profile which most directly replaces Jorginho in his team.
Sensi has not had the easiest time finding form with the Nerazzurri since joining from Sassuolo in the summer of 2019 due to persistent injury struggles, but when he has played he has shown his quality.
Most recently, the 26-year-old filled in as an attacking midfielder behind striker Edin Dzeko in the Nerazzurri’s Serie A opener against Genoa, and played well despite being given a task outside his natural role due to the lack of other available attackers.
However, as Mancini states, he could also flourish in a much different role on the pitch, and has the right qualities to play in the holding role in the same vein as Champions League winner Jorginho.
Asked who the deputy for the Chelsea man in his squad is, Mancini answered that “Sensi is the one that comes closest, then it is clear that with different qualities, even Verratti or Cristante can do it.”
