The Riccardo Calafiori to Real Madrid story has taken another twist.
Real Madrid’s signing of Marc Cucurella from Chelsea for £47.5million this week had signalled the end of their pursuit of Arsenal’s Italian defender.
However, Arsenal insider James McNicholas suggested on the Arsecast that the possibility had not been entirely ruled out.
“I made some inquiries around this because obviously they’ve just bought a left-back for rather a lot of money — Chelsea bailed out again somehow in Cucurella,” he said.
“Mourinho has bought about three defenders already at Madrid, and I’m told he’s still in the market for another.
💰 Fill in the blank: Real Madrid MUST pay £__m to sign Riccardo Calafiori from Arsenal this summer…
“So I don’t fully rule out the Calafiori thing, but you have to think it’s a bit less likely having signed Cucurella.”
Fabrizio Romano, on the other hand, speaking on his YouTube channel, has a very different read on the situation.
“It means no Calafiori. Certainly no Calafiori,” he said. “From what I’ve been told, Real Madrid simply had a meeting with Calafiori’s agents — they talked, they have several players with different options — but Real Madrid never made offers, never reached an agreement with Calafiori, never contacted Arsenal.
“The goal was actually to sign a player with those characteristics, but the name was [Josko] Gvardiol, who will actually stay at Manchester City, and then Cucurella will arrive. Riccardo Calafiori is staying at Arsenal for now.”
That final line — “staying at Arsenal for now” — will be music to the ears of Gunners supporters.
Why keeping Riccardo Calafiori is so important for Arsenal this summer
Losing Calafiori this summer would have created a needless problem for Mikel Arteta and Andrea Berta.
The Gunners could already potentially be stretched at the back.
Ben White’s future remains uncertain, Jurrien Timber withdrew from the World Cup with injury, and William Saliba faces the prospect of post-tournament surgery that could rule him out for the start of next season.
Losing Calafiori on top of all that would have only weakened the Gunners, and created another hole to fill.
Eintracht Frankfurt’s Nathaniel Brown had been sounded out as a left-back target, but the Germany international now looks set to join Bayern Munich.
Arsenal are monitoring Crystal Palace’s Maxence Lacroix as potential defensive cover, which could accelerate depending on Saliba’s status.
Romano’s update, if accurate, removes one major concern from Arsenal’s summer. Calafiori is staying, for now, at least.
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