Riccardo Calafiori’s career could have been over before it had even started. Six years ago, while playing for the Roma youth team against Viktoria Plzen, he was on the receiving end of a horrendous tackle that destroyed his knee, rupturing all of the ligaments in his meniscus. “There is the most important battle of my life ahead of me, and I certainly cannot back down,” wrote the 16-year-old Calafiori on Instagram as he began a year of recovery. Had he been any older, and had his body still not been developing, he might not have recovered the way he has.
Fast-forward to the present day and Calafiori is on the cusp of a high-profile move to Arsenal. The 22-year-old was one of a few Italy players to come out of Euro 2024 with any credit after they put up a turgid defence of their title in Germany this summer. The young centre-back’s performances caught the eye of Europe’s elite, with Arsenal hoping to win the scramble for his services.
Arsenal conceded fewer goals than any other team in the Premier League last season – just 29 goals in 38 matches – and yet Mikel Arteta is keen to get that number down further. William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhães provided the most solid foundation in the league, with David Raya excelling behind them as he claimed the Golden Glove, having kept more clean sheets (16) than any other goalkeeper.
Arsenal were thought to be prioritising a striker when the season ended but their attention has turned to a move for Calafiori, who Bologna value at £42m. He was superb for Italy at Euro 2024 alongside his centre-back partner Alessandro Bastoni and he was excellent last season for Bologna as they secured a top-four finish in Serie A under Thiago Motta.
If Arsenal have such a steadfast defence, why would they spend so much on another centre-back? Because Calafiori is so versatile. Arteta wants his players to be able to fulfil a number of roles, particularly in defence. Calafiori is unlikely to oust Saliba or Magalhães as first choice at the heart of the backline but his ability to play left-back will appeal to Arteta.
Left-back was a problem position for Arsenal last season, with no fewer than four players featuring in the role for the team in the league. Jurriën Timber, who had arrived from Ajax for £34m in the summer, was picked for the first game of the season, a 2-1 win against Nottingham Forest, but he was stretched off in the 50th minute with an ACL injury and was not seen again until the final game of the season.
Oleksandr Zinchenko was meant to be the long-term solution at left-back when he joined from Manchester City two years ago for £30m, but the Ukrainian’s defensive issues really came to the fore last season. Jakub Kiwior ended the season in the role but, while solid defensively, he lacked the attacking impetus that Zinchenko brought to the side.
Arsenal lacked stability down the left side following the departure of Granit Xhaka, so they focused their attacks down the opposite flank. Signing Calafiori could bring balance back to the team. The Italian combines the defensive solidity of Kiwior with Zinchenko’s desire to push into midfield.
Despite starting just 26 of 38 league games, Calafiori ranked sixth for interceptions (50) in Serie A last season. His willingness to push up and preemptively cut out danger would allow Arsenal to quickly transition from defence to attack. They scored the fourth most counter-attacking goals (seven) in the Premier League last season and his impressive reading of the game could help them spring even more lightning-quick counters.
Calafiori is comfortable in possession and likes to bring the ball upfield, which would help Arsenal. The left-back’s job in this Arsenal side has been not to overlap in the same style as Ben White on the opposite flank but rather to move infield to maintain dominance in the middle of the park when Martin Ødegaard and the left central midfielder – last season this was initially Kai Havertz and then Declan Rice – push upfield to support the attack.
While this potentially leaves Saliba and Magalhães exposed, the full-backs have the recovery speed to drop back into position when the centre-backs are pulled wide. Calafiori and White both have experience of playing as centre-backs so will not feel exposed if they have to cover in the heart of the defence. This should also help Arsenal squeeze the play in the middle of the park and quickly regain possession to ease any pressure on their goal.
What is equally important is that Calafiori is keen to get forward when possible, not only to move into midfield but to provide another attacking outlet too. His assist for Mattia Zaccagni’s late equaliser against Croatia at Euro 2024 was a prime example of what he can offer in the final third. Calafiori marauded from defence to attack before setting up the Lazio man to fire past Dominik Livakovic in the 98th minute. He scored two goals and picked up seven assists for Bologna in Serie A last season – those numbers will only go up if he moves to Arsenal.
Calafiori’s nickname as a youngster was “Ruspa” – Bulldozer – which is apt given the way he barrels upfield, flattening all those before him. Arsenal fans should be very excited at the prospect of Calafiori joining the club. The strongest defence in England is set to become even tougher to break down.
