Agent of Arsenal midfielder Jorginho rejects critics of Italy penalty taker

The agent of Arsenal midfielder Jorginho has defended his role as Italy's prime penalty taker.

Former Napoli ace Jorginho has missed his past four spot-kicks for the Azzurri.

But Joao Santos, ahead of Italy's Euro qualifier with Ukraine, told TMW: "If he misses a penalty and the team wins 5-2, I hope he misses a penalty every match (he smiles). Beyond the jokes, only those who take penalties miss penalties.

“I hope he goes and kicks. He is a professional. Penalties are a lottery. And then he always has an opposing goalkeeper to beat.

“Goalkeepers have improved a lot in recent years. And they study all the movements of the penalty takers. Today it is more difficult to score than to make mistakes. And in ten years a goal will be scored for every ten penalties: technology, study, new techniques. It's not easy to score a penalty."