Riccardo Calafiori reveals Mikel Arteta's unusual tactics to convince him to join Arsenal

Arsenal defender Riccardo Calafiori has opened up about the unconventional messages Mikel Arteta sent him last summer to persuade him to join the Gunners.

Calafiori made the switch to Arsenal in the summer of 2024, moving from Bologna for a reported fee of £42 million ($45.6m) following extensive discussions between all three parties.

The Italian has now shared the unique methods Arteta used to convince him to make the move to North London. Since joining, Calafiori has quickly established himself as a key figure in Arsenal’s defence.

Since joining, Calafiori has quickly established himself as a key figure in Arsenal’s defence

This season, the Gunners have once again mounted a challenge for the Premier League title, though it appears they may fall short once more.

Calafiori, however, has featured in 17 appearances so far and is steadily developing into a solid defensive presence for the club’s future.

Speaking to Undici, Calafiori said: “I was immediately impressed by how much he cared about getting to know me. One day on the phone he sent me some photos of my family and asked me to say what each member of the family meant to me.

“Nothing like this had ever happened to me before, I’m not saying that he convinced me with this alone but it certainly represented an important moment.”

Riccardo Calafiori’s Journey to Arsenal

Riccardo Calafiori began his senior career with AS Roma, where he made a limited number of appearances before being loaned out to Genoa.

Following his spell in Genoa, Calafiori moved to Basel, and later to Bologna, continuing to develop his skills and experience.

In July 2024, the talented left-back made a high-profile move to the Premier League, joining Arsenal for a reported fee of £42million.

A product of Italy’s youth system, Calafiori has represented his country at various youth levels since 2017. He earned his senior debut in June 2024, marking a significant milestone in his career.

The versatile defender also featured prominently for Italy at UEFA Euro 2024, starting in all three of the team’s group-stage matches.