Jorginho and Riccardo Calafiori are the latest Italian footballers to have played for Arsenal in recent years.
A total of five Italians have suited up for Arsenal since the year 2000, with the last two joining the club in the space of the last three seasons.
Jorginho joined the Gunners in January 2023 after winning the Champions League with Chelsea. Calafiori is the latest Italian arrival at Arsenal, joining the club the club this summer from Bologna.
The 22-year old defender was on international duty this week, while Jorginho missed out on a call up and spent the international break training at London Colney.
Italian journalist cannot believe how Serie A clubs missed out on Riccardo Calafiori
Valentina Ballarini slammed Italian clubs after Italy’s win over Israel on Monday. She questioned why some of the biggest clubs in the league brought in big money signings from abroad when a player like Calafiori was available:
“Losing Calafiori was madness. I don’t know how to define it in any other way. It was a madness in our football, the most evident in recent years.
“There have been many, it’s true, caused by the economic power that we no longer have for some time, but that of Calafiori drives me crazy in a negative way.”
Ballarani also slammed AS Roma for overlooking Calafiori’s talent at an early age. The defender only played 18 games for Roma before he was shipped to Bologna.
“How could Roma lightheartedly let go of a player like that? How could they not see his infinite potential and not trust him despite his many physical problems? Why didn’t Juventus go all in on the defender instead of spending €50m for Douglas Luiz and €15m for Cabal?”
Juventus director surprised that defender moved to England
Cristiano Giuntoli, who is the director at Juventus, also spoke on Calafiori after he completed the move to Arsenal.
According to Giuntoli, it was a real concern that no top clubs in Italy were able to sign the defender before his eventual move to England.
“He’s a regret for the whole Italian football, not only Juventus. We must think about the fact that we didn’t have the strength to keep a player of his level in Italy. All big teams signed a defender, but not him.”
Calafiori’s arrival at the Emirates has been a big boost for Mikel Arteta, who believes the Italian is a quality addition to the team despite having been at the club for a short time.
