Bologna was one of the teams that drew the most attention last season. The Italian side out of the blue gave the Serie A giants a run for their money in terms of competitiveness. Thanks to Thiago Motta’s excellent coaching, their performance thoroughly entertained football fans. This summer, top teams expected Bologna to be a talent pool, hoping to make wise signings from the Italian side.
Serie A giant Juventus has already secured their manager, Motta, but two of their star players, striker Joshua Zirkzee and defender Ricardo Calafiori, are poised to join the Premier League.
So between Zirkzee and Calafiori, who do you think would make a significant impact in the Premier League? According to Italian analyst Manuel Minguzzi, between the two, Calafiori will undoubtedly shine in England.
Via Football London, Manuel suggests Zirkzee isn’t tried and tested, but according to him, Calafiori has proven quality. Additionally, while the focus is on the defender playing left back at Arsenal, the Italian commentator suggests that the Italian defender is at his best in central defence, which could even make him competition for Gabriel.
Manuel said: “Calafiori was born a full-back but Thiago Motta turned him into a centre-back.
“But I see him as better central defender. Honestly, I see Calafiori as more ready than Zirkzee for the Premier League. Riccardo is a top player now, Joshua has yet to fully prove it.”
Zirkzee, who allegedly passed his medicals on Friday, is on the verge of becoming a Manchester United player (he could have been unveiled by the time you’re reading this), while Arsenal is yet to finalise the Calafiori deal. However, all signs point to a matter of when rather than if. Based on the remarks above, I’m guessing the Gooners can be convinced that they are receiving the best deal from Bologna. What do you think?
Darren N
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We have to sign Calafiori yet.
Once again we are penny pinching.
This deal should have been done ages ago.
How we deal with transfer deals is a bloody farce.
We need players before the season starts not after it has started.
Oh my God. Has the season already started?
How did I miss that!!!!
Not sure about “penny pinching” – Arsenal have already shelled out £27m for Raya in this window and also many deals generally have been delayed because of the Euros (including Calafiori’s I suspect). Things should start picking up now though.
We also shouldn’t forget that according to reports Calafiori will cost Arsenal around £45m and if so that’s a cool £70m+ on only two players in this window and not a £1 back in sales yet as far as I can see.
I think Arsenal will be trying to balance purchases with sales rather better than they have in the recent past and that may cause delays as well.
How long can it take? They’ll end up with a window with stumps!
Bologna want their valuation of €50m fully met. I have no issues with that. But them reportedly asking for a 50% sell-on clause smarks of greed to me.
They can’t hold us to ransom trying to recover all their losses from this one transaction. I’m not even sure we are that desperate for Calafioli after all
This deal should have seen the light of day it’s not AR5EN4L penny pinching but a Bologna greed wanting to eat it’s cake and have it.
You want a full €50m, add-ons yet want to include a 50% sell on clause it doesn’t all work that way; we won’t be arm twisted and it’s not like we are desperate though
This deal should have seen the light of day it’s not AR5EN4L penny pinching but a Bologna greed wanting to eat it’s cake and have it.
You want a full €50m, add-ons yet want to include a 50% sell on clause it doesn’t all work that way; we won’t be arm twisted and it’s not like we are desperate though.
This could take some time to sort out
@CorporateMan and AR5EN4L God bless you two. Exactly my take. Pure greed. €50M cash down excluding add-ons and 50% sell on fee; who does that? I believe bologna want to furstrate arsenal to start biding war, but the player is making it difficult for them, by choosing just arsenal.
I expect this negotiation to drag on till the tail end of the transfer window, except bologna come back to their senses earlier.