Arsenal are closing in on a deal to sign Riccardo Calafiori from Bologna, but whilst interest from Mikel Arteta may have been recent, there was a surprise connection dating back over three years.
Calafiori only joined Bologna from FC Basel last year, having come through the ranks at AS Roma, but after an impressive Euro 2024 campaign, Arsenal beat off competition from Juventus and Chelsea to sign him.
The 22-year-old has enjoyed an unconventional career path. After failing to make the grade at Roma and spending time at Genoa, he spent a year at Basel before returning to Italy with Thiago Motta’s Bologna.
His career path may have been dramatically altered by Arsenal before any links between the club and player emerged. In January 2022, Calafiori was allowed to join Genoa on loan, but this was only possible after Mikel Arteta made a decision over a Hale End graduate.
Arsenal loaned Ainsley Maitland-Niles to Roma in 2022, this allowed Riccardo Calafiori to depart
In the summer of 2020, Arsenal rejected offers for Ainsley Maitland-Niles, who was thriving at left wing-back under Arteta.
However, he soon found himself out of the team, and by January 2021, he was seeking a loan move away to play regular football. He went to West Brom, before then returning to Arsenal six months later.
By December 2021, Maitland Niles wanted out again, and in January 2022 Jose Mourinho took him on loan at Roma, and this directly affected Calafiori, as the young defender was then loaned to Genoa as a result of Maitland-Niles arriving in Rome.
“AS Roma are still in talks with Arsenal for Maitland-Niles. Discussion ongoing about loan fee and buy option. Player’s open to accept but it’s not fully agreed between clubs yet. Meanwhile, Roma fullback Riccardo Calafiori leaves the club to join Cagliari on loan.” Fabrizio Romano posted on X in December 2021.
Calafiori’s move to Cagliari then fell through, and two weeks later he joined Genoa, with his space being taken by Maitland-Niles.
Riccardo Calafiori previously faced off with Jurrien Timber
Calafiori made just 18 appearances for Roma, but in that time he featured in a Europa League quarter-final clash against Ajax in 2021.
This saw a teenage Calafiori play on the left of midfield, where he would come up against a teenage Jurrien Timber.
Calafiori actually got the better of Timber, leaving him for dead before his cross deflected into the path of Edin Dzeko, who sent Roma to the semi-finals with a goal.
Calafiori will now compete with Timber for a spot at left-back at Arsenal, and both will likely play together at some point given their versatility.
The Italian’s career path could have been different if Maitland-Niles had never moved to Roma, and may not have ended up at Bologna to then develop into a player coveted by Arteta, and this bizarre connection will now come full circle as he heads to the Emirates.
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