Rio Ferdinand mends relationship with Arsenal star following harsh criticism over ‘he can’t run’ comment.

Rio Ferdinand extends an olive branch to Jorginho after past criticism of the Arsenal midfielder’s running ability.

Ferdinand’s comments date back to 2019 when Jorginho was still at Chelsea. At the time, the former England defender remarked, “He gets no assists, he’s not a great defender, once a game gets like this against the big teams he gets overrun in midfield and he can’t run.” Jorginho later addressed those remarks in 2021 after winning the UEFA Men’s Player of the Year award, following Chelsea’s Champions League victory and Italy’s Euro triumph.

Since moving to Arsenal in January 2023, Jorginho has signed a contract extension and played a key role in the squad. Ahead of Arsenal’s clash with Manchester United, Ferdinand revisited his previous stance during an interview with Jorginho on his podcast, Rio Ferdinand Presents, offering an apology. “I’d like to reiterate here with you to your face, that nothing’s ever personal,” Ferdinand said. “I look at things from a tactical perspective and what may be the problem and solution.”

Jorginho accepted the apology, responding, “It can’t be personal. We don’t know each other, and I completely get it.” He also acknowledged the influence such comments can have in the modern game, saying, “With social media now, they often take things out of context, which can have an impact.”

Although on the fringes of Arsenal’s starting XI this season, Jorginho has stepped up when needed, even captaining the team in victories over Tottenham and Southampton during Martin Ødegaard’s absence. He has started Arsenal’s last two league games, and his availability for the Manchester United match may depend on the fitness of Thomas Partey and Mikel Merino, who are recovering from injuries.

Manager Mikel Arteta commented on the team’s readiness, saying, “We’re going to have a meeting this afternoon. We’ve monitored players and kept some out of certain activities. After the meeting, we’ll decide who is fit and available to start.”