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Riccardo Calafiori

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Riccardo Calafiori
Calafiori with Arsenal in 2024
Personal information
Full name Riccardo Calafiori[1]
Date of birth (2002-05-19) 19 May 2002 (age 22)[2]
Place of birth Rome, Italy
Height 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)[2]
Position(s) Centre-back, left-back
Team information
Current team
 Arsenal
Number 33
Youth career
2008–2010 Petriana
2010–2020 Roma
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2020–2022 Roma 10 (0)
2022 → Genoa (loan) 3 (0)
2022–2023 Basel 26 (0)
2023–2024 Bologna 30 (2)
2024– Arsenal 3 (1)
International career‡
2017 Italy U15 7 (0)
2017–2018 Italy U16 9 (1)
2018 Italy U17 3 (1)
2020 Italy U19 2 (0)
2021–2024 Italy U21 8 (0)
2024– Italy 6 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 18:41, 22 September 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 6 September 2024

Riccardo Calafiori (born 19 May 2002) is an Italian professional footballer who plays as a defender for Premier League club Arsenal and the Italy national team.

Club career

Roma

A youth product of Roma, Calafiori signed his first contract with them on 16 June 2018.[3] Calafiori suffered a near career-ending injury to his knee on 2 October 2018.[4] Calafiori made his professional debut with Roma, as well as his Serie A debut, in a 3–1 away win over Juventus on 1 August 2020; during the match, he won a penalty, which was successfully converted by teammate Diego Perotti, and he also scored a goal with a strike from distance following a corner, which was disallowed however, as the ball had previously gone out of play.[5][6]

The following season, on 3 December 2020, Calafiori was brought on by Roma coach Paulo Fonseca as Leonardo Spinazzola's substitute,[7] and scored his first professional goal in Roma's home win against Young Boys in the UEFA Europa League.[8]

On 14 January 2022, Calafiori joined Genoa on loan.[9]

Basel

On 30 August 2022, Roma announced that Calafiori had joined Basel on a permanent deal.[10] Calafiori signed a 3-year contract with Basel.[11] He joined Basel's first team for their 2022–23 season under head coach Alexander Frei. Calafiori played his domestic league debut for his new club in the away game at the Cornaredo on 9 October 2022 as Basel were defeated 1–0 by Lugano.[12]

Bologna

On 31 August 2023, Calafiori returned to Serie A and signed with Bologna alongside Basel teammate Dan Ndoye.[13] Under head coach Thiago Motta, he was switched to a centre-back role, where he emerged as one of the best players in the league.[14] On 20 May 2024, he scored his first Serie A goals by netting a brace in a 3–3 draw against Juventus, with Bologna conceding three quick goals following his substitution in the 75th minute.[15] Throughout the season, he helped Bologna qualify for the UEFA Champions League for the first time since 1964–65, ensuring a top-five finish in Serie A.[16][17]

Arsenal

On 29 July 2024, Calafiori joined Premier League club Arsenal on a long-term contract[18] for a reported fee of £42 million.[19] He made his Premier league debut against Aston Villa on 24 August 2024.[20] On 22 September, Calafiori scored his first goal for Arsenal away at Manchester City, scoring from outside the box from a free kick taken quickly, to equalize in a game that eventually ended 2–2.[21]

International career

On 3 September 2021, Calafiori made his debut with the Italy U21 squad, playing as a substitute in the qualifying match against Luxembourg, which Italy won 3–0.[22]

On 23 May 2024, he received his first official call-up to the Italy senior national team, being included in the preliminary squad for UEFA Euro 2024 by manager Luciano Spalletti.[23] He debuted for the senior team on 4 June, coming on as a substitute for Federico Dimarco in the 85th minute of a 0–0 friendly draw against Turkey in Bologna.[24]

Having subsequently been confirmed in the final squad for UEFA Euro 2024,[25] Calafiori made his competitive debut on 15 June, starting in a 2–1 victory over Albania in the group stage;[26][27] at 22 years and 27 days, he became the second-youngest Italian to play in the UEFA European Championship, behind only Paolo Maldini.[28] He scored an own goal in Italy's 1–0 defeat to Spain in their second match.[29] In their final group stage match against Croatia, he assisted Mattia Zaccagni's stoppage-time equaliser in a 1–1 draw that sent Italy through to the round of 16 with a second-place finish.[30] However, he also received a booking during the match, which ruled him out of Italy's second round fixture against Switzerland,[31] after which Italy were eliminated from the tournament following a 2–0 defeat.[32]

Style of play

A left-footed defender, Calafiori started out playing as a left-back or left-sided wing-back, before being shifted to a centre-back role during his spell at Bologna, under manager Thiago Motta, due to his ability to start attacking plays from the back with his passing range, establishing himself as one of the best defenders in Serie A during the 2023–24 season.[14][33] Tactically, he is capable of playing in a back three or a back four, and is known for his anticipation, as well as his aggressive and physical style when putting pressure on opponents.[34][35] A quick and powerful player, he has been mainly praised for his technique and his shooting prowess from distance, while also being known for his ball-carrying ability. His height also makes him effective in aerial duels. As a full-back, he was capable of getting forward to provide crosses from the touchline, or assisting his team defensively with his quick recoveries.[34][35][36]

Considered to be one of the most promising Italian talents of his generation,[34][37] in 2019 he was included in The Guardian's Next Generation list of the 60 best young talents in world football,[38] before being named as one of UEFA's "50 for the future" in 2021.[39]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 19 September 2024[40]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] League cup Europe Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Roma 2019–20 Serie A 1 0 0 0 — 0 0 1 0
2020–21 3 0 0 0 — 5[b] 1 8 1
2021–22 6 0 0 0 — 3[c] 0 9 0
Total 10 0 0 0 — 8 1 18 1
Genoa (loan) 2021–22 Serie A 3 0 — — — 3 0
Basel 2022–23 Swiss Super League 23 0 3 0 — 8[c] 1 34 1
2023–24 3 0 0 0 — 1[c] 0 4 0
Total 26 0 3 0 — 9 1 38 1
Bologna 2023–24 Serie A 30 2 3 0 — — 33 2
Arsenal 2024–25 Premier League 2 0 0 0 0 0 1[d] 0 3 0
Career total 71 2 6 0 0 0 18 2 95 4
  1. ^ Includes Coppa Italia, Swiss Cup
  2. ^ Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  3. ^ a b c Appearance(s) in UEFA Europa Conference League
  4. ^ Appearance in UEFA Champions League

International

As of match played 6 September 2024[41]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Italy 2024 6 0
Total 6 0

Honours

Individual

References

  1. ^ "2024/25 Premier League squad lists". Premier League. 13 September 2024. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Riccardo Calafiori: Overview". Premier League. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
  3. ^ "Chi è Riccardo Calafiori, il baby-Kolarov della Roma blindato da Monchi". Calcio Fanpage (in Italian). 16 June 2018. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  4. ^ "POTENZA, RAPIDITA' E FISICITA': RICCARDO CALAFIORI, IL BABY TALENTO DELLA ROMA". 7 July 2020.
  5. ^ "Juventus vs. Roma - 1 August 2020 - Soccerway". us.soccerway.com.
  6. ^ Baldini, Sergio (1 August 2020). "Juve-Roma 1-3: Higuain non basta, ora testa alla Champions". www.tuttosport.com (in Italian). Retrieved 2 August 2020.
  7. ^ Manfredi, Jacopo (3 December 2020). "Europa League, Roma-Young Boys 3–1: Mayoral, Calafiori e Dzeko regalano il primo posto ai giallorossi" (in Italian). la Repubblica. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
  8. ^ "Il ginocchio che si rompe, la dedica di Dzeko e il primo gol in giallorosso" (in Italian). Sky Sport. 3 December 2020. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
  9. ^ "RICCARDO CALAFIORI È ROSSOBLÙ" (in Italian). Genoa. 14 January 2022. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
  10. ^ "Official: Riccardo Calafiori sold to FC Basel". Roma Press. 30 August 2022. Retrieved 30 August 2022.
  11. ^ FC Basel 1893. "Riccardo Calafiori wechselt zum FCB". Riccardo Calafiori moves to FCB (in German). FC Basel 1893 AG. Retrieved 31 August 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  12. ^ FC Basel 1893 (9 October 2022). "Ein weitgehend harmloser FCB unterliegt in Lugano mit 0:1". A largely harmless FCB beaten 1-0 in Lugano. FC Basel 1893 AG. Retrieved 16 November 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  13. ^ "Calafiori al Bologna" [Calafiori at Bologna] (in Italian). Bologna FC 1909. 31 August 2023. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
  14. ^ a b "E SE VI DICESSIMO CHE CALAFIORI È UNO DEI MIGLIORI CENTRALI DELLA SERIE A?" (in Italian). Cronache di Spogliatoio. 24 December 2023. Retrieved 8 January 2024.
  15. ^ Nevischi, Leonardo (20 May 2024). "Calafiori: "Il pari non rovina la bellissima stagione fatta. Il gol? Mi ero quasi arreso..."" (in Italian). Bologna Sport News.
  16. ^ Young, Peter (12 May 2024). "Official: Juventus and Bologna secure 2024-25 Champions League places". Football Italia.
  17. ^ "Bologna back in dreamland as Motta's giddy journey jumbles up old order". The Guardian. 11 May 2024. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
  18. ^ "Riccardo Calafiori signs for Arsenal". Arsenal F.C. 29 July 2024. Archived from the original on 30 August 2024. Retrieved 29 July 2024.
  19. ^ "Why Riccardo Calafiori can be Arsenal's answer to John Stones". ESPN. 29 July 2024. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
  20. ^ "Calafiori reacts to Premier League debut with Arsenal". Yahoo Sports. 25 August 2024. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
  21. ^ Watts, Charles (22 September 2024). "Arsenal player ratings vs Man City: Devastation for the Gunners! Leandro Trossard's red card eventually proves costly as colossal Gabriel Magalhaes & Co.'s rearguard is broken at the death in dramatic draw". Goal. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
  22. ^ "Esordio con vittoria per la nuova Italia. Nicolato: "Ho visto un grande impegno, ma dobbiamo lavorare"". Federazione Italiana Giuoco Calcio (in Italian). 3 September 2021. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
  23. ^ "Scatta la missione EURO 2024: il 31 maggio Azzurri a Coverciano, ecco i 30 convocati per il raduno" (in Italian). Italian Football Federation. 23 May 2024. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  24. ^ Triolo, Davide (4 June 2024). "Italia-Turchia | Calafiori: "Emozione grandissima, spero di andare all'Europeo"" [Italy vs. Turkey | Calafiori: "Great emotion, I hope to go to the European Championship"]. Sportface (in Italian).
  25. ^ "Ufficializzati i convocati per EURO 2024, esclusi dalla lista Provedel, Ricci e Orsolini" (in Italian). Italian Football Federation. 6 June 2024. Retrieved 16 June 2024.
  26. ^ "Anche in Europa si sono accorti di Riccardo Calafiori". Il Post (in Italian). 16 June 2024. Retrieved 16 June 2024.
  27. ^ "L'Italia parte male, poi rimonta: Bastoni-Barella, Albania ko e primi tre punti per i campioni d'Europa. Spalletti: "Cose buone, ma devono portare a qualcosa"". Italian Football Federation (in Italian). 15 June 2024. Retrieved 16 June 2024.
  28. ^ "Calafiori secondo solo a Maldini: il record con l'Italia all'Europeo". Tuttosport (in Italian). 15 June 2024. Retrieved 16 June 2024.
  29. ^ "Euro 2024 – Spain 1–0 Italy: Riccardo Calafiori own goal sends Spain into last 16 as Group B winners". Sky Sports. 20 June 2024. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  30. ^ "Croatia 1–1 Italy: Zaccagni steers Azzurri into last 16". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 24 June 2024. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
  31. ^ Johnston, Neil; Begley, Emlyn (24 June 2024). "Croatia 1–1 Italy". BBC Sport. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
  32. ^ "Spalletti: Italy Euro '24 failure my 'responsibility'". ESPN.com. 29 June 2024. Retrieved 29 June 2024.
  33. ^ "The National Goal, the Champions League dream, and the memory of the injury. Calafiori: "Without those tough moments, these wouldn't have happened"". Federazione Italiana Giuoco Calcio. 20 March 2024. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
  34. ^ a b c Mongiardo, Emmanuele (21 May 2024). "Calafiori ci ha ricordato cosa lo rende speciale" (in Italian). L'Ultimo Uomo. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
  35. ^ a b "I difensori centrali più sorprendenti della prima parte di Serie A" (in Italian). 90min.com. 4 December 2023. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
  36. ^ Giachero, Matteo (2 May 2024). "Da Calafiori a Piccoli: 5 giocatori da plusvalenza nella 35ª al Fantacampionato". La Gazzetta dello Sport (in Italian). Retrieved 5 June 2024.
  37. ^ "Calafiori: Reports Bayer Leverkusen interested in promising Bologna defender". football-italia.net. 25 April 2024. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
  38. ^ Christenson, Marcus; Powell, Jim; Blight, Garry; Bandini, Nicky (10 October 2019). "Next Generation 2019: 60 of the best young talents in world football". the Guardian. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
  39. ^ "50 for the future: UEFA.com's ones to watch for 2021". UEFA.com. 19 January 2021. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
  40. ^ Riccardo Calafiori at Soccerway. Retrieved 12 September 2018.
  41. ^ "Riccardo Calafiori". EU-Football.info. Retrieved 4 June 2024.
  42. ^ "Riccardo Calafiori "EA Sports Player Of The Month" for May". Serie A. 23 May 2024. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
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