Riccardo Calafiori joined Arsenal from Bologna in July(Image: Getty Images)

Riccardo Calafiori details Mikel Arteta phone calls and what Arsenal boss had to explain

Arsenal signed Riccardo Calafiori from Bologna during the summer transfer window, but the Gunners had been tracking the Italian at least 12 months before his move

17 Oct 2024, 11:42 by Kieran King · football.london

Riccardo Calafiori has revealed that Arsenal started contacting him ONE year before he made the £42million move from Bologna to the Emirates. The 22-year-old signed a five-year contract with the Gunners in July after impressing for Italy at Euro 2024 and in the Serie A last season.

Calafiori made his debut off the bench against Aston Villa in August but has since cemented himself as a vital member of the Arsenal squad. In fact, he has started each of their last six matches across all competitions, including the last three in the Premier League.

He scored his first Arsenal goal in the 2-2 draw at Manchester City last month and is proving to be an excellent addition following his summer switch. However, Calafiori has now admitted that he had been in contact with the Gunners for a year before his move, which included calls from Mikel Arteta.

Speaking to the BBC, Calafiori said: "They started so early, around one year before. Mikel started to call me a bit and wanted to explain what they thought about me. He wanted to convince me but I was already convinced."

Arteta has been impressed with Calafiori since his blockbuster move to north London and heaped praise on him after scoring against City. "He came back, had a little glimpse, then went on international duty and got injured, so we had to manage him again," Arteta said in a press conference.

"Then we threw him against Man City away for the first Premier League start and I think he was superb. He's really good. He's adapted really well to the group, his understanding is exceptional and you see he's a player with an enormous courage and personality to play, so he's going to give us a lot."

The Gunners are back in action after the international break when they make the trip to Bournemouth on Saturday. Arteta's side have won their last two Premier League matches and will be trying to make it three on the spin against the Cherries, who fell to a disappointing 1-0 defeat at Leicester last time out.

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