Jorginho's Italy career is likely ended.

According to Lorenzo Bettoni, Luciano Spalletti's decisions and Italy's results during the September break indicate that Jorginho's career with the Azzurri is likely to end.

Jorginho had a lengthy, successful, and controversial history with the Italian national team. The Brazil-born midfielder played a key role in Italy's shock EURO 2020 victory three years ago, but his career has since stalled.

The former Napoli and Hellas Verona midfielder notably missed two penalty attempts in the 2022 World Cup qualifier against Switzerland. This prompted the Azzurri to compete in a playoff stage, when they were defeated and eliminated by North Macedonia.

When Luciano Spalletti came over in September 2023, he benched Jorginho for the first four games. The Arsenal midfielder had not received enough playing time in London, so Spalletti chose Bryan Cristante and Manuel Locatelli for the Italy Regista position, but he swiftly changed his mind.

Jorginho's Italy career is likely ended.

Spalletti called Jorginho back in November 2023 for games against North Macedonia and Ukraine. The seasoned midfielder missed another penalty in the opening encounter at the Stadio Olimpico, but the Azzurri still won 5-2 in the EURO 2024 qualifiers.

Following those two games, Jorginho made seven consecutive appearances, three of which came during last summer's Euros. However, none of his performances were impressive, and Spalletti made headlines in a 1-0 defeat to Spain, telling his team that the Arsenal midfielder should have come to grab the ball or there was "no point in him playing."

It wasn't entirely Jorginho's fault, though. The Arsenal player was dropped in the Euro Round of 16 versus Switzerland, and Italy's performance was still disappointing, resulting in a well-deserved elimination.

Only two months have passed since Italy's Euro withdrawal, and so much has changed. Spalletti rested eight Euro 2024 players, including the Arsenal playmaker, for September's games against France and Israel, and early indications suggest that Jorginho's Italy career may be ended after 57 international appearances and five goals.

Spalletti has gone with a 3-5-2 shape, with Torino midfielder Samuele Ricci replacing Jorginho as a deep-lying playmaker. Fans and analysts praised Ricci's recent international performances, and even 1982 World Cup winner Marco Tardelli expressed his admiration for the 23-year-old's personality. Spalletti has other choices for the Regista job, including Juventus' Nicolò Fagioli, which may limit Jorginho's chances.

"Jorginho's abilities did not shine in the Euros, and I want to see if I can find other resources in him. Spalletti stated in his first press conference in September that the focus is now on getting to know new faces.

Jorginho has not played a competitive game for Arsenal this season and has been linked with a move to Galatasaray in September. Regardless matter whether he gets more playing time with any club, his Azzurri career appears to be done, especially with the 2026 World Cup approaching.