After lengthy and complicated negotiations, Arsenal have finally confirmed the arrival of Bologna defender Riccardo Calafiori.
But who is the Italian, what will he bring to the side and why is he costing (up to) £40 million? Phil Costa reports.
Arsenal fans know the heartbreak and injustice of injury more than most. The regrets, the what ifs sink themselves into your mind and appear without notice at any given moment. But Riccardo Calafiori has experienced injury on another, more personal level and six years ago, his career was almost over before it started.
His knee was shattered to pieces following a studs-up challenge while playing for Roma in the UEFA Youth League, with scans later revealing that every ligament in his knee was ruptured. Doctors described the damage as “something that normally happens in motocross” while others told local newspapers it was an injury you see “once every ten years”.
But after ten months of rehabilitation, three transfers and just over 2,000 days later, he now finds himself at one of the biggest clubs in world football.
Benvenuto, Riccardo Calafiori 🇮🇹
Meeting new teammates for the very first time ❤️ pic.twitter.com/JbUhqOBCMN
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) July 29, 2024
Calafiori initially broke through as a left back for boyhood club Roma, although he was tall, wiry and looked like a mild breeze could knock him over. His body was very different to what it is now, and that played a major role in him falling out of favour under José Mourinho (who was manager at the time). After a disappointing loan at Genoa, the defender and his agent sought a club where he could reinvent himself – which is where Basel stepped in.
Under Heiko Vogel, Calafiori was used in a back three system which maximised his technical quality but also called on him to improve physically with more space to cover, both in behind and in midfield. That season in Switzerland was the making of who we see today, with his real breakthrough coming for Bologna last term who finished fifth and achieved Champions League football for the first time since 1964.
Piazza Maggiore in Bologna packed with supporters celebrating qualification to the Champions League tonight.
The players gather on an open top bus at the front of the main square.
It shows just how much this means to the people and the city! ❤️💙 pic.twitter.com/JAq1CvYeyv
— Derek Watson (@derekwatson89) May 22, 2024
What instantly stands out when watching Calafiori is: man, this guy can run with the ball. You often hear about ball playing centre backs but the 22-year-old is a ball carrying centre back, who likes to identify space and bomb forward to create overloads in dangerous areas. Calafiori created more chances (14) following a carry than any other centre-back across Europe’s top five leagues last season – Opta data – and almost became a joker for Bologna under Thiago Motta who were typically quite measured in their build-up.
He will, however, need to refine the timing of those carries. That sense of adventure is a crucial part of his game but he has been guilty of losing possession after biting off more than he can chew. Being able to break games open (especially from defensive areas) makes him unique, but transitions are the enemy of control and more often than not, mistakes will be punished in this league.
In terms of his distribution, his short game is very secure – he passed at 90% completion rate for a team averaging the second-highest possession statistics in Italy last season – with a good body shape when welcoming the ball and can fizz passes through the lines if needed. His long-range passing – especially those raking diagonals to the right winger – while accurate could still improve. They take a long time to reach their target and feel telegraphed which gives the left back a chance to intercept the ball if switched on.
Defensively, Calafiori follows a theme found in many recent Arsenal recruits. The 22-year-old is very front-footed, he likes to be the aggressor and gets as close to players as you can be without being in their shorts. A lot of his game is centred around anticipation and being able to read situations, where he can pounce on under-hit passes or strikers being on their heels, before steaming in, nicking the ball and getting things moving the other way.
We know Mikel Arteta loves winning duels and when he or those around him don’t – is upset. Thankfully for him, Calafiori was one of the best duel winners in Europe last season and won more duels (60) than any other Bologna player. He is also in the 99th percentile for ball recoveries with 7.63 per 90 – FBRef data – which is absolutely ridiculous, highlighting his proactivity and willingness to make things happen on the pitch.
That duel success rate translates to the skies as well. Calafiori was one of only two Serie A players to win 70% of their aerial duels last season (minimum 30 appearances) alongside Nikola Milenkovic, which highlights his impressive leap and capability to tread the line when battling for the ball – pushing buttons, small nudges in the back – to gain an edge.
Riccardo Calafiori for Bologna during the 2023/24 Serie A campaign:
◉ Most possession won (194)
◉ Most aerial duels won (60)
◉ Most interceptions (50)
◉ Most assists (5)⤵️ Season By Numbers pic.twitter.com/JllWJKKlG1
— Squawka (@Squawka) July 3, 2024
If we are entertaining the prospect of Calafiori playing at left-back, I don’t think his physical mechanics are as smooth as Ben White despite logical comparisons. He is bulkier and broader, whereas White looks more like a long-distance runner, with a leaner build and upright technique. That could pose a few issues in the Premier League and the Champions League, against wingers with raw speed over long distances but also those who can change direction quickly.
He just doesn’t have that level of mobility, and it wouldn’t surprise me to see him go for the early fouls sometimes instead of backing himself in a foot race, but that’s the trade-off in playing a player of his profile in that position. Calafiori reminds me of someone like Nemanja Matic or Adrien Rabiot, in that they don’t look super natural or quick across the ground but can be very difficult to stop once in full flow – especially once the stiff arm comes out or they get their bodies across you.
As a centre-back, those concerns aren’t so pressing and he is someone who could replicate that style of defending we see from Gabriel, covering wide areas when needed but also embracing direct battles with opposition strikers. Calafiori acquitted himself well against the likes of Victor Osimhen, Dusan Vlahovic and Marcus Thuram last season who are all quick, powerful forwards which makes him an ideal fit for the Gunners’ high line.
If you asked me what his best position was, I would lean towards centre back but it’s very difficult to nail him down because he’s played plenty of football in many different roles. It’s also stupid thinking about players so definitively in the modern game because no player is just a centre-back, or an attacking midfielder anymore – we even see goalkeepers pushing forward to provide another option in possession.
Part of his appeal is that ability to be good in two or three positions, and what he offers us tactically that others can’t. He can deputise or rotate with Gabriel – who Arsenal have been incredibly lucky with injury-wise – but what he brings to Arteta’s 2:3 set up from left-back is the defensive stability of Jakub Kiwior with better passing and incision going forward, and comfort in midfield like Oleksandr Zinchenko with more defensive nous. I was surprised at how often he was popping up as the number six or even further between the lines for Bologna this season – and even for Italy U21s.
Currently watching Calafiori play Actual Midfielder for Italy U21 (i.e. defending in the block, and not inverting from somewhere else). pic.twitter.com/gUXAaMIsKl
— Billy Carpenter (@billycarpy) July 13, 2024
His long-term future doesn’t lie there by any means, it’s more about his comfort in those areas which could give Declan Rice more freedom to press and hunt the ball – which worked effectively last season – but also allow Rice to drop in and protect Calafiori should he decide to push forward on the overlap himself. It’s all about forming those relationships on the pitch, which should come with time.
Simply put; Arsenal deserve credit for getting this signing over the line. There were many complications surrounding the deal, with a 50% sell-on clause owed to Basel, competition from other clubs, potential price inflation after his EURO performances and Bologna digging their heels in to maximise any transfer fee. But negotiations have been relatively smooth and it’s clear significant work has been done on the player side to facilitate that.
It’s also a sizeable fee for someone fairly inexperienced at this level whose natural instincts will need polishing, but Calafiori should be considered another exciting addition to this squad and defensive line. He arrives with physical and technical quality to bring some energy to the current left-hand side, as well as eye-catching bravery to make that role his own which will have appealed to Arteta who reportedly pushed for the signing himself.
When you’re not only in direct competition with but trying to beat the 115-charge three-point machine that is Manchester City, margins become ridiculously fine. Some may question the need for another defender but the speed in which Arsenal continue to evolve under Arteta – illustrated perfectly by the wavering importance of Zinchenko and Gabriel Jesus – shows the need for ruthlessness when you believe there are better options available.
Football, like time, waits for nobody and why wait when there are titles to be won?
