Mikel Arteta ignored Arsenal hierarchy ‘concerns’ about Riccardo Calafiori transfer – it’s left him red-faced

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Riccardo Calafiori has had a mixed start to life at Arsenal following his summer transfer from Bologna.

The versatile defender was recruited on the back of a stellar season in Serie A, as well as some exceptional performances at Euro 2024.

Calafiori was one of five players Arsenal signed in the summer transfer window in preparation for the 2024/25 calendar however, things haven’t gone entirely to plan.

Already this season, the Italian has missed 15 games, with questions now being asked about the transfer.

• READ MORE: Grading every player Arsenal signed in 2024 – one arrival ended a furious debate this year

Mikel Arteta had to convince Arsenal to sign Riccardo Calafiori

Calafiori was named in Serie A’s team of the year for his work prior to his Arsenal transfer, telling of the quality Mikel Arteta lured to the Emirates.

While the 22-year-old’s ability has never been questioned, when you rewind back to the time of Arsenal’s interest, you’ll find that the club weren’t entirely sold on the target.

That’s according to The Athletic’s understanding at the time, as a report detailed that Arteta needed to ‘convince others’ at Arsenal that the transfer would represent ‘good business’.

What accompanied the report was a podcast, in which David Ornstein shared the ins and outs of Arsenal’s interest in Calafiori. 

The renowned journalist stressed that the defender was a ‘target for Mikel Arteta’, stating that he would have to ‘convince’ the club’s hierarchy to look past ‘concerns’.

Ornstein added that those at Arsenal believed that Bologna’s €50m asking price was ‘significantly above his market value’, which was the price the Gunners eventually signed him for, translating to £42m. 

The deal was completed and both parties were more than satisfied however, the biggest stumbling block surrounding the player has ultimately left Arteta with questions to answer.

Riccardo Calafiori’s injury record is a problem 

The Athletic also raised the ‘issue’ of Calafiori’s injury record, citing that prior to his transfer, it remained ‘to be seen’ whether Arteta’s view of the player could ‘overcome’ such concerns. 

Calafiori is sidelined through injury at the time of writing, having missed the Manchester United FA Cup defeat due to a muscular problem.

This season, the Italy international has only featured 11 times from a possible 20 in the Premier League, with six of his absences credited to injury.

It’s a serving of reality for Arteta, who convinced the club to sign the player he wanted so desperately, seeing the defender through rose-tinted glasses to some degree.

The figures make for concerning reading for Arsenal and for Arteta, who prioritised signing the 22-year-old in the summer, knowing of his turbulent injury record.