Riccardo Calafiori says he spoke to Daniele De Rossi about joining Arsenal, while Mikel Arteta was ‘humble and easy on the phone’ the first time they talked.
Calafiori spoke to BBC ahead of the Gunners’ away game at Bournemouth on Saturday.
A product of the Roma academy, Calafiori suffered a horrific knee injury six years ago, and it was so bad that it could have even ended his career.
The versatile defender got a tattoo after the incident which occurred when he was playing for the Roma Primavera team.
“This was my first tattoo, and it was for this reason. It was so tough. I was 16 and suddenly you start to think I can’t play football ever again,” he said.
“You appreciate more small things and you grow up as a man. It helped me become a better player. I remember the first month I came back I was going into every duel like crazy, I had no fear any more.”
Born in Rome, Calafiori has a special connection with Giallorossi legend De Rossi, a former coach and midfielder at the Stadio Olimpico.
“He is one of my friends and I always ask him about my biggest decisions and he always gives me good advice,” said Calafiori.
“I spoke to him about coming to Arsenal and he said ‘this one of the biggest opportunities for you to improve as a player’.”
Calafiori had already played abroad for one year when he joined Basel from Roma in 2022.
“It was the best choice I ever made,” said Calafiori. “[Moving abroad] you learn a lot as a player and a man.
“It was the first time I was living alone outside my country. You have to do all the things your own. If you have a bad day, you are alone. They gave me the chance to feel like a player for the first time. I felt important for this club.”
Last year, he returned to Italy and Serie A, joining Bologna.
“I wanted to prove to Serie A fans I was not the player who played there before, I wanted to prove them wrong,” he said.
“Last season was my best season. The coach [Thiago Motta] helped me a lot. He was the first guy who put me as a centre-back after I had always played left-back, then I had my best season so far.”
Calafiori had already visited London in January, when a move to Arsenal wasn’t even on the cards.
“I came as a coincidence to visit the city, I had never been before,” he said.
“Arsenal were playing Crystal Palace, they won 5-0. At that point I wasn’t even thinking about coming to the Premier League.”
“Since I was a kid, I always had a passion to learn languages and started with Netflix and the lyrics of songs – UK drill,” he continued.
“I am still learning and want to improve.”
How about English food?
“I expected worse from the food in England, it is not so bad,” he replied.
“Fish and chips I have tried – once per month maybe you can do this, but it isn’t healthy. I want to feel the whole experience, I want to become an English person and embrace it.”
After impressive performances with Italy national team, Arteta and Arsenal called him.
“He [Ateta] first wrote to me and then said can I call you,” said Calafiori.
“It was so humble and so easy on the phone. He wanted to explain the situation and what they thought about me, what I could improve.
“He tried to convince me but I was already convinced. Not just because it is Arsenal but because it is Mikel.”
“During my first training session I was thinking ‘is this real?’,” he continued.
“When seeing the Arsenal logo, could I ever think I would be here now. It is such an amazing journey.”
The Italy international scored his first Arsenal goal in an away game at Manchester City last month.It wasn’t just a great goal from outside the box, but it became viral also for his wild celebration.
“It was not myself who ran – I was blank,” he laughed. “It was another person,” he concluded.