Riccardo Calafiori: Arsenal’s Next Star or Overblown Hype ?

According to Fabrizio Romano, Arsenal are still in talks with Bologna over the transfer of Riccardo Calafiori for €50 million. European journalists have repeatedly quoted Riccardo Orsolini, who called Calafiori “the new Paolo Maldini” and compared him with Alessandro Nesta and Fabio Cannavaro.

🔴⚪️ Riccardo Calafiori keeps waiting for Arsenal as his only priority.

Clubs remain in talks over fee/structure. ⤵️ https://t.co/dtF84p1m1c

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 13, 2024

But is the young Italian defender truly playing well enough to be compared to the greatest Italian center backs of the 21st century? Or perhaps Calafiori is just a hyped player who might only qualify for backup status at Arsenal? Let’s break it down.

From Injury-Prone to Serie A Star: Calafiori’s Remarkable Rise Under Motta

In August 2023, Riccardo Calafiori moved to Bologna from Basel for just €4 million, a year after Basel acquired him from Roma for €1 million in August 2022. Despite his undeniable talent as a defender, his acquisitions came with risks due to his history of injuries, which had caused him to miss many matches over the years.

Before joining Basel, Calafiori missed an average of half of his team’s matches each year. His frequent injuries led coaches to overlook him, limiting his opportunities to play regularly when he was fit. 

Even at Basel, although he became a main squad player, he still missed 14 games a season due to injuries, leading to his transfer to Bologna for a relatively low fee.

The thing with Calafiori is that he’s class, and probably worth the money, but his injury record is not good for such a young player.

23/24 : missed 2 matches due to injury
22/23 : 14
21/22 : 17
20/21 : 23
19/20 : 5
18/19 : 67

— Fabri (@17Reazy) June 16, 2024

Under Thiago Motta’s management at Bologna, Calafiori enjoyed his first almost injury-free season, missing only two matches due to injuries. He became a key player in Motta’s team and thrived in a new role as a left center-back with an active attacking role. Calafiori excelled in the 2023-24 season, showcasing his abilities in this position.

How Calafiori Became Bologna’s Secret Weapon from Center Back Position

Last season, Bologna adopted a unique and uncommon style of football, allowing players to choose their positions during the attacking phase. This fluid approach made it challenging for opponents to defend against them.

Riccardo Calafiori played an unconventional role in the attacking phase, transitioning from the central defender position to the central area of the pitch. His movement made it difficult for opponents to adapt to his shifts. His calm and clever incursions into Zone 14, alongside the central midfielder, were quite surprising.

Calafiori showed a remarkable ability to identify and exploit free space in the central area of the pitch. He successfully dribbled the ball into the final third of the opposition while his teammates stretched the opponents with their movements, creating additional space for him.

#Arsenal not having to sell before signing Riccardo Calafiori explains why he is most advanced link. He is perfect for what we need now as an inverted LB, and still has a huge amount of development room. This is the definition of an Arteta defender. #AFC pic.twitter.com/Gh6Y9U3LkK

— Adam Keys (@adamkeys_) July 16, 2024

His speed, powerful dribbling, and ability to make the right decisions near the opposition’s penalty area are commendable. Furthermore, he excels in making high-quality diagonal passes to wing forwards and accurate crosses into the penalty area from deep positions.

Additionally, Riccardo demonstrates good reading of the game, excels in tackling, and is strong in aerial duels in his own penalty area.

However, there are some weaknesses to consider. Riccardo struggled in delivering high-quality progressing passes, a role that Jhon Lucumí performed for Thiago Motta in Bologna. 

THE DREAM TO PLAY FOR @Arsenal pic.twitter.com/gwsbcRzZ8a

— Ricardo Calafiori🇮🇹 (@MrItalianAura) July 13, 2024

Furthermore, due to his history of injuries, he lacks speed in defense, making it difficult for him to keep up with fast opponents, especially when there are passes behind the defender’s back.

Lastly, due to irregular game practice, Riccardo sometimes shows instability, leading to mistakes under pressure and incorrect positioning in his penalty area during opponents’ attacks.

Is Riccardo Calafiori the new Paolo Maldini or just another overhyped player?

Due to numerous injuries in previous years, Calafiori has only managed to play one full season so far. Therefore, it is still difficult to determine how consistently Calafiori will be able to perform at a high level in future seasons. It is also not clear how he will perform in a in a new system, particularly one that demands more structured positional football.

The young Italian defender may be capable of progressing and improving the quality of his passes over time and enhancing his ability to read the game in his penalty area.

But for now, after just one full season, it is difficult to say exactly how ready Calafiori is to fight for a place in Arsenal’s main squad. Perhaps that is why the London club is not ready to offer more than €50 million for the player just yet.

But the main point is that it’s premature to label Riccardo Calafiori the new Paolo Maldini. Their performances are not comparable currently.

Left-Wing Woes: Can Calafiori Fix Arsenal’s Fullback Frenzy?

The Arsenal management, especially Mikel Arteta, is keen on the  22-year-old player for reasons we need to understand. According to Fabrizio Romano, Jakub Kiwior might depart from Arsenal this summer. The Polish defender hasn’t showcased his attacking abilities, focusing more on defense, which might not be suitable for Arsenal’s plans.

🔴⚪️🇵🇱 Jakub Kiwior could leave Arsenal in case of good proposal, with Riccardo Calafiori close to joining.

Understand there’s possibility for loan but only with a mandatory buy clause.

Italian clubs are keeping close eye to the situation, no formal proposals yet. pic.twitter.com/9eytbwcYaF

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 7, 2024

Additionally, Arsenal has faced some challenges with their left fullback Oleksandr Zinchenko, who has been frequently unavailable due to injuries. As a result, Arteta often deployed Takehiro Tomiyasu on the left wing, which worked well, but Tomiyasu has also been prone to injuries. Another option for Arsenal on the left wing is Jurriën Timber.

Timber’s playing style is similar to Calafiori’s. He played as a central defender at Ajax and was known for actively joining attacks from deep through the center of the pitch. It seemed that Timber would become a key player for Arsenal and play on the left flank of the defense, sometimes switching to the center, where he could partner with Declan Rice or Jorginho.

With #Arsenal back in full training, here is a reminder of what we bought with Jurrien Timber. One of the best ball progressers from deep in Europe, and a tough, agile defender who can play across the back four. His injury hit us hard last season. #AFC pic.twitter.com/C6VVnaZivj

— Adam Keys (@adamkeys_) July 15, 2024

Arteta seems to be adopting a strategy similar to Josep Guardiola’s, using a central defender profile on the left wing who can be effective in attack with bursts and crosses, while also excelling in defensive scenarios such as 1v1 situations and aerial duels in the penalty area.

However, Jurriën Timber suffered a serious injury before the start of last season, and it’s uncertain whether he will be able to return to his previous level at Ajax.

This uncertainty might be the reason why Arsenal is interested in Riccardo Calafiori, who could serve as an alternative to Timber and potentially become the main player for Arsenal on the left wing. 

Nevertheless, there’s a concern whether Calafiori will follow the path of other Arsenal left fullbacks, spending more time recovering from injuries than playing in the main squad.

This is especially true considering the more intense nature of the English Premier League compared to the Italian Serie A, which could increase his chances of getting injured.

High-Flying Defender or Injury-Prone Gamble? Arsenal Weigh Up Calafiori Transfer

Riccardo Calafiori is a unique defender with the ability to carry the ball into the opponent’s final third at high speed and deliver quality crosses into the penalty area from almost any zone. 

He is adept at switching positions in defense and maintains a solid level of play in tackling. Mikel Arteta may consider him as an option to emulate the effectiveness of Joško Gvardiol at Manchester City, providing a dynamic and versatile presence on the left flank.

Mateo Kovacic and Josko Gvardiol are expected to join up with #ManCity on their pre-season tour of the US, as per @BenRansomSky. 🇺🇸✅✅ pic.twitter.com/EUw8CC0q0J

— City Report (@cityreport_) July 15, 2024

However, Calafiori is prone to injuries and has shown a tendency to make poor-quality passes under pressure. Additionally, he has only played one full season at a high level, making it challenging to assess his long-term stability and ability to perform consistently.

Considering these factors, Arsenal is unlikely to be willing to pay a large sum for Calafiori. If the transfer does occur, he may face tough competition for a place in Arsenal’s main squad.