Arsenal: Riccardo Calafiori 'happy' as transfer dream is revealed amid 'unfinished business' | OneFootball

Arsenal’s versatile Italian defender is eyeing a homecoming in the future

Riccardo Calafiori says he would like to return to former club Roma, but has stressed that he is happy at Arsenal.

Calafiori joined Arsenal from Bologna in the summer of 2024 for a reported fee of £42million, though injuries have stopped the Italy international from nailing down a place in Mikel Arteta's strongest team.

When fit and available for selection, Calafiori has impressed - whether that be at left-back or in central defence. He has made 36 appearances across all competitions this season, seven more than his debut campaign in north London.

The 24-year-old is expected to feature for the Gunners against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final on Saturday, and has been quizzed about his future ahead of the game.

Calafiori still has three years left to run on his contract at the Emirates Stadium but was asked about a potential return to Roma having come through the academy at the Stadio Olimpico prior to joining Genoa on loan and subsequent permanent transfers to Basel and Bologna.

While admitting that he has "unfinished business" in Rome, Calafiori insists he has no plans to leave Arsenal any time soon.

"I’m happy here now, but I’ve left some unfinished business with Roma. I barely played for that team when I was very young,” he told Italian news publication Corriere della Sera.

Riccardo Calafiori made a handful of senior appearances for Roma prior to leaving

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Meanwhile, Josh Kroenke is confident Arsenal can agree a new contract with Arteta, viewing that as an "utmost priority" for the club.

“If there is a singular person you can trace this all back to, I’m going to give 100 per cent credit to Mikel, his staff and the players," Kroenke said.

"Those are the ones. As much as Mikel is putting together our tactics, the players have got to go play the games, they’ve got to go and win for you.

"Keeping Mikel around is [an] utmost priority and I think the good news for Arsenal fans worldwide is he’s enjoying the project, he’s enjoying being here and from his time as a player all the way up until now, he’s an Arsenal man through and through."