Riccardo Calafiori is one of the newest stars in the Arsenal team after securing a transfer, so here is everything you need to know about the Italian international.
After some impressive displays in Euro 2024 with Italy, Arsenal shelled out £42million to secure a deal for Calafiori.
The versatile defender has had an interesting route to the top, which included a serious injury at a young age that threatened his playing career.
However, against all odds, Calafiori has continued to rise through the ranks, initially starting off at AS Roma.
With a loan spell to Genoa in 2022, he eventually left Italy to join Swiss outfit FC Basel that summer.
The youngster spent just one year there before returning to Serie A, joining up with Bologna for the 2023/24 season.
Impressive performances under Thiago Motta helped the side reach the Champions League, but Calafiori’s stay there would only last one season too.
A move to the Emirates Stadium has been confirmed and Arsenal will be hopeful of getting the most out of the defender.
So with that said, here’s a look at everything you need to know about Calafiori outside of football.
Riccardo Calafiori’s age
At the time of writing, Riccardo Calafiori is 22 years old. The defender was born on May 19, 2002, and began his career at AS Roma.
Where was Riccardo Calafiori born?
Riccardo Calafiori was born in the Italian capital city of Rome, which is on the west coast of the country, and has a population of roughly 2.9 million people.
Riccardo Calafiori’s girlfriend, Benedetta Boeme
Arsenal star Riccardo Calafiori is currently in a relationship with Benedetta Boeme, though it is unclear when the pair started dating.
Boeme, 27, gained plenty of fame online when she was seen gatecrashing an interview with her partner after Bologna secured a place in the Champions League.
There was plenty of speculation over the pair’s relationship status ahead of the move to Arsenal though.
A TikTok account named after Boeme with a picture of her stated that they had broken up ahead of the switch to London Colney.
The 27-year-old had to come out herself and shut down those rumours, posting a statement on Instagram that read: “I find myself forced to have to write that I don’t have any TikTok profile!
“Someone is posing as me and is writing things that are not true! This is my only social profile.
“I have never talked about anything and never will. I kindly ask anyone who has opened the TikTok page pretending it is me and writing personal and delicate things, which are reported in articles, to close immediately.”
Riccardo Calafiori injury
Riccardo Calafiori’s journey to Arsenal almost never happened, with a serious injury occurring early in his career.
The defender was on the end of a horror tackle in a UEFA Youth League match for AS Roma, rupturing all of the ligaments in one of his knees.
There were fears over whether Calafiori would be able to walk in the same way, let alone play football professionally.
“The journey was definitely the hardest thing I faced,” he told Roma TV. “I had a knee that was three times the size of the other one, I had a fever, and I felt insecure.”
Fortunately, his road to recovery brought about a return to playing and led him on the path to joining the Gunners.
Riccardo Calafiori tattoos
Arsenal star Riccardo Calafiori has several tattoos on his arms, with many different designs seen throughout.
Of those that have words, one on his hand reads: “Just be sure to notice the collateral beauty”, potentially hinting back at the injury he suffered.
Riccardo Calafiori hairstyle
Many will be familiar with the locks that Riccardo Calafiori has on his head, which harks back to plenty of iconic Italian defenders of old.
The 22-year-old is often seen with long hair, which reaches the bottom of the neck on length.
His fringe is often parted and pushed back behind his ears, while a hairband is often used while playing to avoid any hair getting in his eyes.
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