Arsenal targeted Manuel Locatelli in the summer of 2021 while he was still at Sassuolo, but he turned them down in favour of staying in Serie A and joining Juventus.
Arsenal was hoping to replace Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang with Dusan Vlahovic in the winter of 2022. The striker’s agency made a deal with Juventus and disregarded Arsenal, which were keen to recruit their client.
Following those two failed deals, it appeared like Arsenal just weren’t lucky in moves for the ‘hot’ players in Italy, especially if Juventus was interested in them.
But then came Riccardo Calafiori in summer 2024, who was prepared to put direct pressure on Bologna’s board to send him to Arsenal as soon as he returned from his summer vacation, even if the mighty Juventus, led by his previous Bologna head coach Thiago Motta, wanted him.
The Emirates stadium dream was too magnificent to pass up. Arsenal’s Sporting Director Edu and his team’s tenacity were crucial in completing the Riccardo Calafiori transfer, despite the Italian side’s adamant refusal to sell the player unless they met his asking price. The Gunners did not overpay; they paid a substantial fee of £34 million, which was almost £8 million less than Bologna’s asking price of £42 million.
Calafiori insisted on moving to the Arsenal despite numerous other teams, including one undisclosed Premier League club, attempting to lure him.
With that transfer saga over, hopefully we’ll be proved right that the Calafiori deal is a very good deal for Arsenal amd we can prove we are a bigger pull than Juventus to Italian players.
Peter Rix
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Peter, as you seem to have detailed information on the transfer negotiations, did Bologna insist on a % deal for any sell on, first opportunity to re-sign and did we pay the reported £34 million in one payment?
Also, when will the club officially announce the signing?
It’s really good to see a young Italy international so hell-bent on joining Arsenal, even describing it a “lifetime dream”. But I don’t just the Calafiori situation is enough, on its own, to conclude that Arsenal has suddenly become a greater pull to Italian players than Juventus.
The circumstances are looking up for Arsenal, no doubt. It could even be better once we started gathering the top trophies in.
Can’t wait!
Juventus is a spent force a scam
No wise players should sugn for that shamble club
Bologna board was not ready to sell Calafiori to Juventus since juve already took their coach Motta with them. Calafiori was ready to sign for Juventus at first. It’s not that playing for Arsenal is much appealing than Juventus. History can’t be undone.
I must be missing something as I haven’t seen anywhere that we have signed him yet and according to the BBC this morning the fee being discussed is £40+ m. I have just read an article on another blog though that is suggesting the price is £33m, perhaps the writer just believes all the usual ITKs as gospel. Funnily enough that article writer was also named Peter (or was it Pedro 😉).
I agree it is not confirmed GB, but……
Speaking to Sky Sport Italia about Calafiori and his move to Arsenal, Juventus legend Leonardo Bonucci said: “Calafiori? I’m sorry about his transfer. I would have liked to see him at Juventus.
“He’s a defender who’s a little different to what we’re used to seeing. He plays, has personality and fits in.
“We’re exporting a great player who will be a point of reference for the national team for the next 15 years.”
(Article to follow)
If you seriously think he wanted arsenal over juventus you really are deluded lmao juve didn’t want to pay or possibly don’t have the funds for the transfer. Believe me if juve matched arsenal’s offer he wouldn’t have looked at you twice
Depends on how much salary is offered at the end of the day as unfortunately monetary gain over other option’s usually wins the day.
Juventus has been going through some very tough times recently, on and off the pitch and that must have dented their appeal to some players. Also, the rise of Inter Milan hasn’t helped them either.
However, “The Old Lady” remains the best supported club in Italy and, despite everything, they are only one place behind Arsenal (11th/10th) in the European “money league table” I recall – although still by quite a margin.
So, I think Arsenal may have an advantage currently but if/when Juventus get their act together, they will reemerge as the top draw for most players in Italy.
Not sure we are a bigger pull, depends on the player but we do have a lot to offer this lad. There is a space he can fill in the first team and will be part of one of the best defences in Europe under a coach who is committed to playing from the back.
Furthermore, he can play with Jorginho (like he does with Italy) who is not only one of the best passers in the game but has an aptitude for mentoring youngsters.
Calafiori may not be quite a done deal – quite yet anyway. Latest reports suggest that Roma may launch some sort of legal challenge that could delay matters.
They apparently believe that they are entitled to 40% of the sell-on clause money that Basel will receive (from Bologna as part of the Arsenal deal). They say that this payment is in the agreement that they (Roma) made when they sold Calafiori to Basel originally. Arrrgh.