5 assists final season
©TM/IMAGO
Italy’s final minute equaliser in opposition to Croatia to substantiate their place within the knockout stage was probably the most dramatic moments of Euro 2024 to this point. Mattia Zaccagni could have taken the plaudits as he expertly curled the end into the highest nook, however the area was created by centre-half Riccardo Calafiori intelligently moving into midfield, drawing gamers in the direction of him and shedding the cross. The centre-back got here all the way in which from his personal half, taking part in a one-two after which driving with the ball and offering the help. And he was one of many prime performers for ‘the Azzurri’ at Euro 2024, and was an enormous miss for Italy’s spherical of 16 defeat in opposition to Switzerland after being suspended.
Before a ball was kicked on the match, the inventory was already fairly excessive in Calafiori after an excellent season beneath Thiago Motta at Bologna, wherein the membership certified for the Champions League. Motta has now change into Juventus supervisor, who had been one of many favourites to signal the Italian centre-back this summer time. However, this Monday it has been confirmed that he will likely be heading to the Premier League, with Arsenal lastly getting their man. The deal reportedly value the Gunners €45m + €5m in add-ons, and is there second main signing of the summer time, after making the mortgage deal for keeper David Raya everlasting for €31.9m.
Last week switch guru Fabrizio Romano claimed Arsenal hd offered a long run proposal to Calafiori, and that the participant solely needed to affix Arsenal. The Gunners had been thought to have already got a wonderful relationship with the Italian facet after signing defender Takehiro Tomiyasu from them in 2022. Calafiori has a present market worth of €45m, after receiving a +€15m improve within the current Euro 2024 market worth replace, however simply how good is the 22 12 months outdated? With professional perception from Italy, Transfermarkt brings you all the things it’s essential know concerning the Italian.
How good is Riccardo Calafiori?
Calafiori is way from an orthodox centre-back. As you possibly can see within the graphic above, no different centre-half offered extra assists throughout Europe’s prime 5 leagues final season. His method and imaginative and prescient allowed him to try in Motta’s revolutionary system wherein the centre-halves would usually push ahead with the ball. Jatin Dietl is Transfermarkt’s space supervisor in Italy, and explains extra about Calafiori’s qualties: “He began his career as a left-back, but was later also employed as a central defender, particularly during his time at Bologna under Motta. Left-footed, he has excellent technique and considerable tactical intelligence, as well as a good shot from distance. He combines the qualities of a full-back with those of a modern central defender.”
“In 2019, he was included in the list of the best sixty footballers born after 2002 by the English newspaper The Guardian, while in 2021 he was listed by UEFA as one of the 50 most promising youngsters of the year.” Dietl added. At the age of twenty-two, he has already made 129 senior membership appearances, in addition to 5 caps for Italy. He was a part of the Roma group that gained the Europa Conference League again within the 2021/22 season. He just isn’t but the completed article nevertheless and should have flaws in his sport, as Dietl expands on, “What he may have in terms of gaps in man-to-man cover and tackling, he makes up for with his quality in attacking play. But until his move to Bologna, he was never really able to show his talent on a consistent basis, it was only with the incoming Juve coach [Motta] that he became the player he is now.”
He appears destined to maneuver on from Bologna this summer time, enhanced by his performances at Euro 2024. “He definitely seems ready to take the next step.” Dietl proclaims. “He definitely needs a playing system that suits his characteristics, as being played as a pure old-fashioned defender he would be wasted and probably not a good investment.” It’s largely anticipated that Calafiori will play most of his soccer at Arsenal from the left facet of defence, however his versatility will likely be key to Mikel Arteta.
Where will Riccardo Calafiori slot in at Arsenal?
Early experiences this summer time prompt Juventus had been the front-runners to safe Calafiori’s signature, and had been reportedly near agreeing a take care of Bologna for a price within the area of €40m. It was thought that Motta being the brand new head coach might be a deciding issue. However, the undertaking offered by Arsenal persuaded the Italian that the Emirates could be the place to be his new house. Calafiori’s versatility might be a key pull for Mikel Arteta, with the Italian able to taking part in each centre-back and left-back, however his signing would increase questions of the way forward for left-back Oleksandr Zinchenko who fell out of favour in the direction of the tip of final season.
It is probably going Calafiori would discover it arduous to dislodge the present centre-back partnership at Arsenal of Gabriel and William Saliba who’ve change into probably the most formidable duos in world soccer. Whilst these two and Ben White at right-back had been mainstays in one of the best defence within the Premier League final season, the one space that wanted a little bit of surgical procedure was at left-back, with Tomiyasu, ZInchenko nor Jakub Kiwior nailing down that function. Calafiori possessing extra defensive acumen than Zinchenko, mixed along with his potential to invert and assault extra naturally than Tomiyasu or Kiwior may make him a key man for Arteta.
