Arsenal could learn from missed opportunities of the past and now approach Riccardo Calafiori.
The Pitch Prospect has learned that the Gunners have reached an agreement in principle with Bologna to sign the centre-back this summer.
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Calafiori is well on his way to a place after an excellent 2023/24 season and a solid 2024 European Championship with Italy, despite being eliminated in the round of 16 against Switzerland.
At 22, he is set for a long stay in north London and his arrival could see Arsenal make amends for missing out on a football legend.
Giorgio Chiellini is considered one of the best central defenders of all time and has won, among other things, nine Serie A titles with Juventus and the European Championship with Italy.
He has long been one of the toughest defenders in the game, so much so that Arsenal legend Robin van Persie revealed he wanted to sign him for the club when he was there from 2004 to 2012.
“At a certain moment I felt called upon to say what Arsenal could do better to win the league,” he told Kaj Gorgels in 2020, via the Daily Mail.
“I felt we lacked the winning mentality and asked Arsene Wenger to sign Giorgio Chiellini. I’ve played against him a few times and he’s a real winner.
“You could see that when he played against Holland a few weeks ago. He’s 36 years old, but he throws nine elbows every game with a smile on his face.
“He will always smile and never get a yellow card. You need winners and killers like that on your team. I had the feeling we should get him.”
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Chiellini stayed at Juventus and spent 18 years there, earning 117 caps for Italy before retiring in 2022 to cement his status as a legend.
Calafiori would have to achieve a lot to reach that level of success, but a move to Arsenal could help him reach the next level.
He scored two goals and assisted five more in 33 appearances for Bologna last season and can also play as a left-back when required.
Calafiori will be Arsenal’s first signing of the summer as Mikel Arteta’s side look to win a third consecutive Premier League title.