Riccardo Calafiori, the Italian defender who is making a name for himself in the Premier League with Arsenal after a stellar 2023/24 season with Bologna, recently spoke to Sky about his experiences. The 22-year-old has adapted quickly to English football and credits his rapid progress to various factors.
“I knew how different the Premier League was from Serie A and gave myself a few months to adapt. In reality, the adjustment was very quick, I can’t even explain how I did it. It was also thanks to Arsenal, who helped me not miss Italy too much, that I started strong right away,” Calafiori said.
Regarding his move to Arsenal, Calafiori revealed that manager Mikel Arteta had been in contact with him even before the European Championship. “Arteta and I had been talking for a long time. He told me I had to come to Arsenal, he explained the project to me and what idea he had for me,” the defender explained.
Calafiori also compared life in Bologna to London, noting the stark differences between the two cities. “In Bologna, I lived in the center and only took the car to go to training, it’s a small city. London is completely different, it’s huge, and if you have time and financial means, it’s also very beautiful. It’s not easy to get around the city, but at first, I managed, and it’s so big that sometimes you can go unnoticed. The only thing I don’t like is the climate,” he admitted.
Discussing his role at Arsenal, Calafiori said, “At Arsenal, I play as a full-back, while in the national team I act as a wide center-back. These are two roles that give me the freedom to have the ball, so I feel very comfortable.”
The young defender had high praise for his former coach at Bologna, Thiago Motta. “Thiago Motta absolutely changed my career. I thought he could only teach me things I could use at Bologna, but instead, they served me well at the European Championship and here at Arsenal,” Calafiori enthused.
Reflecting on the most challenging moment of his career, Calafiori shared a personal story: “At 16, I understood that I would become a footballer. I suffered an injury, and they told me I wouldn’t be able to play again. This marked me and gave me a different strength. When I came back, I realized I would play football, even though I didn’t expect to be able to reach these levels.”
