Arsenal’s pursuit of Riccardo Calafiori is currently facing a new setback as his former club, Roma, has initiated a legal challenge, resulting in further delays in finalising the transfer. Despite the Gunners having already reached an agreement with Bologna to acquire the Italian defender, a legal dispute has arisen, complicating the deal.
Additionally, Calafiori’s former club, Basel, presents an obstacle as they are entitled to receive 50 per cent of any profit from the player’s sale. Ongoing discussions between Bologna and Basel are further complicated by Roma’s involvement, adding another layer of complexity to the situation.
According to reports from Gazzetta dello Sport, Roma inserted a 50 per cent sell-on clause when Calafiori transferred to Basel, entitling them to a larger portion of the profit from his impending move to Arsenal. This disagreement has led to the involvement of lawyers from both Roma and Basel in an attempt to resolve the issue, much to Arsenal’s frustration.
The 22-year-old defender began his career with Roma before moving to Basel and then back to Serie A with Bologna. Despite facing challenges in his career, including an ACL injury, Calafiori has remained resilient and remains optimistic about the future.
Should Arsenal successfully secure Calafiori’s transfer, he would become their third signing of the summer, following the acquisitions of goalkeepers David Raya and Tommy Setford from Brentford and Ajax, respectively.
In addition to the transfer news, Arsenal also unveiled their new shirt design, which pays homage to the club’s heritage with a classic and elegant aesthetic. The shirt features a simplified and modernised interpretation of the traditional cannon emblem, reflecting Adidas’ commitment to embracing the club’s rich history while also embracing contemporary design principles.
As the situation with Calafiori’s transfer unfolds, it remains to be seen how the legal dispute will be resolved and whether Arsenal will successfully secure the talented Italian defender.
If you have thoughts on whether Riccardo Calafiori would be a good signing for Arsenal, feel free to share them in the comments below.