- Arsenal have reportedly moved ahead of Juventus in the race for Calafiori
- The defender was one of Italy’s standout players during their Euros campaign
- LISTEN to It’s All Kicking Off! EUROS DAILY: Why do England look ‘miserable’ and like they are split into ‘two factions’?
Arsenal are reportedly keen on adding some Italian spice to their backline in the form of Riccardo Calafiori.
The Italy centre-back has been one of the standout defenders at Euro 2024 and is coming off a breakthrough season with Bologna, who qualifed for the Champions League.
Calafiori, 22, is being targeted by multiple clubs including Juventus and several Premier League sides.
However, Arsenal’s interest is seen as the most concrete, according to Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio.
Bologna’s technical director Giovanni Sartori has previously told Sky Sport Italia: ‘We will try to keep Calafiori but if important offers arrive we will have to take them into consideration.
Arsenal have reportedly moved ahead of Juventus in the race for Riccardo Calafiori
The 22-year-old centre-back impressed for Italy at Euro 2024 and Bologna last season
‘I don’t think he will go to Juventus. He will probably go to a different market.’
Calafiori has set tongues wagging not only through his performances but through his style.
The fact that his long hair is held back by a headband has, or better or worse, connected him to a tradition of Italian defenders including Paolo Maldini, Fabio Cannavaro, and Alessandro Nesta.
At Euro 2024 he did not disappoint those comparisons, though he was suspended for Italy’s last-16 tie against Switzerland, watching them crash out via 2-0 defeat.
Mail Sport’s Matt Barlow selected Calafiori in his team of the group stages after seeing him strike a centre-back partnership with Inter Milan’s Alessandro Bastoni.
It was not all sunshine and roses for the Roman, who scored an own goal during the 1-0 defeat by Spain in his country’s second group game.
However, he more than redeemed himself in the subsequent 1-1 draw with Croatia, where he marauded through midfield late on and picked out the superb pass that set up Mattia Zaccagni for his 98th-minute equaliser to send Italy through.
His potential role in Arsenal’s team will be a subject of intrigue given that the Gunners arguably have the best centre-back pairing in the league.
Calafiori scored an own goal during the 1-0 loss to Spain but bounced back against Croatia
He set up Mattia Zaccagni after a driving run and saw his team-mate score the equaliser
William Saliba (L) and Gabriel Magalhes (R) will be a difficult centre-back pairing to dislodge
Mikel Arteta’s side conceded the fewest goals in the Premier League last season, letting in 29
William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes have played together 79 times over the past two seasons.
Arsenal had the best defence in the league last campaign, only conceding 29 goals, and Calafiori will therefore have his work cut out to break in.
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