Riccardo Calafiori, a priority for Mikel Arteta, has been announced as a new Arsenal player, fresh from the books of Serie A side, Bologna.
The Italian completed a medical in London on Sunday before leaving for the United States, where he joined the rest of the squad on tour in Philadelphia.
The sensational defender was part of the Bologna side that earned the club’s return to the UEFA Champions League after 59 years of absence, under now Juventus manager, Thiago Motta, last season.
Calafiori, in what was his first and only season with Bologna played a pivotal role in their success as they finished in a Champions League place and kept the third best defensive record in the Serie A.
Calafiori was the highest rated Bologna player in the Serie A last season while he was also the best rated defender in the division. Overall, only four players, Hakan Calhanoglu, Lautaro Martinez, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Paulo Dybala had better rating than the young defender, as per FotMob.
He featured in 30 League games, of which the club kept 15 clean sheets while he returned five assists, the most by any center back, with two goals, both of which came in a 3-3 draw with Juventus later in the season.
Breaking the ‘homegrown stays home’ tradition in Italy
In Italy, it was thought that Calafiori will join Juventus as the Biaconerri works on restoring their team back amongst the midst of elites in European football. It had been a tradition in the country that many of their top talents, especially defenders always played their prime at home.
The Maldinis (Cesare and Paolo) Gaetan Scirea, Franco Baresi, Giuseppe Bergomi, Alexandro Nesta, Giuseppe Favalli, to mention but a few played their entire professional careers in Italy.
Of course a few, like Fabio Canavarro, Giorgio Chiellini, Leonardo Bonucci, Gianluca Zambrotta moved out of the country but it wasn’t until the latter stages of their respective careers.
Juventus, Milan, International, AS Roma, Palermo were dream clubs for young players at the time. Given many of these clubs were also successful on the continent and regarded amongst the best in the world, it was easier to keep Italian talents in Italy.
Terms has changed in the modern era and players now look for greener pastures outside their country, whether for more lucrative finances or the love of playing in better teams and with Calafiori, he has his eyes set on moving away from the country.
Arsenal made the move to sign the highly-rated defender on the back of a breakthrough campaign with Bologna, and a reputation, also boosted by his impact in Italy’s backline in the UEFA European Championship earlier in the summer.
Initially, the 22-year-old’s signature looked like a one horse raise for Italian giant Juventus but after his eye-catching outing in Germany 2024, where he left many wanting, he became competition amongst top clubs.
Mikel Arteta’s side was not the only Premier League club linked with Riccardo Calafiori. Their fellow Londoner, Chelsea was also in awe of his talent and at some point confessed to their interest in the former AS Roma man.
However, it was Arsenal who made genuine attempt to lure him away from the reach of Juventus, who was not in the mood for a tug of war for the signature of the versatile defender.
Riccardo Calafiori : Charmed by Mikel Arteta ‘s convincing skills
As Martin Ødegaard said via The Players’ Tribune in 2023, “I challenge anyone to come away from a meeting with Arteta and not believe everything he tells you.. He is next level”
It appeared Riccardo Calafiori has had a taste of the Spaniard’s convincing skills when he returned to Bologna from his summer break a few weeks ago.
The former Genoa player also confirmed that he spoke with Mikel for two months, which translated that the Arsenal boss has had his sights set on him even before he earned more fame in the Euros.
“Let me go and fulfill my dream,” the defender said to Bologna after it appeared negotiation had stalled with the English club. It appeared Arteta’s charm got a hold of him.
Riccardo Calafiori joins Arsenal from Bologna
Final agreement was eventually reached over a €40 million guaranteed fee with €5 million in add-ons a just over a week ago as both Bologna and Basel settled for a 50 percent sell-on payment terms, finally eliminating the stumbling block in advancing the deal to the completion stage.
Riccardo Calafiori has now completed the move to Arsenal, signing a five-year contract until 2029. He will wear the No.33 shirt, last worn by goalkeeper, Arthur Okonkwo.
He is expected to slot seamlessly into the leftside of the formidable Arsenal defence, which had the best record in the Premier League last season, conceding only 29 goals and kept 18 clean sheets.
Despite the impressive numbers, the left-back position was an obvious loophole, with Jakub Kiwior and Oleksandr Zinchenko not really convincing for the standard wanted my Mikel Arteta, one of the few weakness that saw them bowed out of the UEFA Champions League quarter-final in the hands of Bayern Munich.
With the arrival of Calafiori, the Gunners will have more assurance of sealing the deal as they again resume their quest to finally end their 20 year wait for a Premier League title.
In one of his interviews as a new Arsenal player, Calafiori said; “I spoke with the coach and Edu for almost two months, they tried to convince me but I was already really convinced to come here. It’s the best project that I can have. There were other clubs [interested], but I don’t care anymore.”
That is what happened when you listen to Mikel Arteta try to convince you to move to the club. The likes of Jorginho, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus to mention but a few have all been there, and the result is them doning the colours of the 14 times Premier League winners.
Fourth Italian to sign for the Arsenal
Riccardo Calafiori becomes the fifth Italian to sign for Arsenal after Arturo Lupoli, Vito Mannone, Emiliano Viviano and Jorginho, the latter who is still in the books of the Emirates landlords.
His talent has received a lot of praises and what he brings to Arsenal is obvious, although it remains to be seen if he will be able to deliver the goods.
Welcome to Arsenal, Riccardo Calafiori.
1 Comment
OLT To The World