Much of Bologna success last season, which coincided with the club securing Uefa Champions League for next season was down to Thiago Motta’s brilliant defensive unit and the impressive Italian, Ricardo Calafiori. Born 19th May 2002, Calafiori was signed from Basel in a €4m deal and went on to impress under the guidance of then Coach Thiago Motta who recently signed for Seria A giant Juventus.
Riccardo Calafiori made his debut for Bologna in their first Seria A match of the just concluded season starting as the left sided center back and went on to play 30 matches in Serie A , playing a total of 2347 minutes. Bologna concedes an average of 0.73 goals for every 90 minutes that the Italian was on the pitch. On 20th of May 2022, He scored his first Serie A goals by scoring twice in a 3–3 draw against Juventus, with Bologna taking a 3 goal lead before conceding three quick goals following Calafiori’s substitution in the 75th minute.
On 23rd of May 2024, Calafiori received his first call up for Italy, being included in the preliminary squad for Uefa Euro 2024. He made his debut with the Azurri on the 4th of June in Italy’s 0-0 draw against Turkey at his home club stadium in Bologna, replacing Federico Dimarco in the 85th minute and went on to start all Italy’s group stage match at the just concluded Euro championship setting up Italy equalizing goal in the dying seconds to tie the match for Italy against Croatia and send Italy to the knockout stage and Crotia out of the tournament. Such was his performance that he was quickly the attention of media and pundits, praising him for his ball carrying abilites and defensive qualities that he soon became a sort after target for numerous clubs in which Arsenal was one of them.
The Gunners have been looking for a solution to their left back issues with Oleksandr Zinchenko not convincing enough and Jakub Kiwior not having the kind of qualities that coach Mikel Arteta wanted having been deprived of summer signing Jurien Timber who could have been an excellent acquisition to the left back role due to his season ending injury against Nottingham Forest, and Takehinro Tomiyasu injuries meant the Gunners were short in the left back role. Arsenal quickly approached Calafiori and sold out the plans of the club to him and quickly agree on personal terms with him to fend off interest from Premier League rival Chelsea though they failed to agree a fee with Bologna, till a break through was made Saturday morning due to the 50% sell on agreement Bologna had with Basel when they signed Calafiori.
Arteta will be getting his top defensive target and what will the Italian bring to the Emirate and what made him the number one target for Mikel Arteta?
Only two defenders that played 30+ games in Serie A in 2023/24 won at least 70% of their aerial duels:
79.4% – Nikola Milenkovic
71.4% – Riccardo Calafiori
Riccardo Calafiori’s strengths also lies in his ball interception, passing, tackling and seems to have no weakness which Arteta would have been pleased and glad to finally having his man in a £33.7m + £4.2m in adds on, not bad for one of Euro breakthrough stars of the tournament. Much was his importance to Italy that it was argued Italy would have progressed had the defender not been suspended for the game against Switzerland which Italy lost 2-0. Calafiori has also attracted praises for his good looks but the Emirate Stadium could soon welcome a defensive maestro and the Premier League will welcome a star, raised in Italy, made in Basel and ready to take EPL by storm come next season. A brilliant signing by Arsenal when completed and the Gunners could try and have him on their tour to the USA if completed on time, He could team up with his teammates who jetted out to the USA on Sunday. Brilliant signing for Arsenal when and not if completed.
