Arsenal’s head coach Mikel Arteta mentioned that defender Riccardo Calafiori was “eager to organize his move” to the club from the moment they had their first conversation.
The adaptable 22-year-old defender from Italy joined from Bologna for a sum reaching £42 million with add-ons, promptly reuniting with his teammates in Philadelphia ahead of a pre-season fixture against Liverpool on Wednesday.
When asked what caught his attention most about Calafiori, Arteta highlighted the Italian’s eagerness to join Arsenal despite interest from rival clubs.
“It was fantastic when I had a couple of conversations with him, especially when I was uncertain about the possibility,” he explained at the Subaru Park of Philadelphia Union.
“He confidently stated, ‘Just tell me when you’re ready, my bags are packed, and I want to come to Arsenal.’ Those were his exact words.”
“Having that level of enthusiasm and commitment to enhance our squad is something we can be extremely proud of.”
Arteta also mentioned that Calafiori wouldn’t be hurried into playing against Liverpool at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia but might be “available for a few minutes”.
This event is taking place in the city renowned for the fictional boxing hero Rocky ‘the Italian Stallion’ Balboa, with Calafiori expressing his desire to visit the iconic Rocky steps and statue, while also explaining his reasons for choosing Emirates Stadium.
“I had almost two months of discussions with the coach and [sporting director] Edu,” Calafiori shared.
“It was challenging [that the negotiations took some time]. But now I’m here, and my goal is to keep progressing every day through training. I was fully committed to coming here. For me, this represents the best opportunity for me to grow as a player.
“Other clubs were interested, but I’ve moved past that. Now that I am here, I aim to win trophies. This is the ideal project because the team is youthful and poised for success. My mindset is centered on winning.”
“I am capable of playing in various positions; my main concern is just being on the pitch. I attended the Arsenal versus Crystal Palace match in January. Once I’m fully fit, I look forward to contributing to the team.”
