Calafiori on Arteta’s Arsenal call and how Thiago Motta ‘changed my career’ | OneFootball

Italy international Riccardo Calafiori explains how Mikel Arteta convinced him to join Arsenal, why Thiago Motta ‘absolutely changed my career’ and when he thought his football dream was over.

The defender made his mark at Bologna last season, which earned him a place in the Italy squad at EURO 2024 and then the transfer to Arsenal at a cost of €45m plus another €5m in performance-related bonuses.

“I knew the Premier League was very different to Serie A and had assumed it would take a few months to adapt, but in all honesty it was much quicker than I expected and even I cannot explain why,” Calafiori told Sky Sport Italia.

“It was also thanks to Arsenal, who made sure I didn’t miss Italy too much.”

Calafiori took the leap for Arsenal

Riccardo Calafiori Italy EPA-EFE/DAVIDE CASENTINI

Juventus were also pushing hard for his signature last summer, especially after hiring his old Bologna coach Thiago Motta, but Arteta was decisive in convincing the player.

“I spoke to Arteta before the Euros too, so we’d already been in communication for a while. He told me that I had to go to Arsenal, he outlined the project and explained the ideas he had for me.

“I play as a full-back at Arsenal, whereas for the Nazionale I am in the back three. These are both roles that allow me freedom with the ball, so I am very happy,” continued Calafiori.

“Thiago Motta absolutely changed my career. I thought he could only teach me things that I could use at Bologna, but instead I carried them with me for Italy and here at Arsenal.”

Although the move to the Premier League was a step up in his career, Calafiori also had to adapt to a different lifestyle off the field.

“In Bologna I lived in the centre of the city and drove only to go to training, as it is a small city. London is completely different, it’s enormous, and if you have the time and money is also very beautiful. It’s not easy getting around, but it’s so big that you can be pretty much unrecognised. The only thing I don’t like is the weather…”

The 22-year-old did not expect to be here at this stage of his career, especially as it almost ended before it truly began for the Roma youth academy product.

“I realised I would become a player at the age of 16. That is when I sustained a serious injury and they told me I might not ever play again. That gave me such strength and when I got back on the field, I knew that I had to play football, even if I did not expect to reach this level,” concluded Calafiori.