Chelsea set to finalize transfer of Bologna defender Riccardo Calafiori
Chelsea have been given the go-ahead to complete the transfer of Riccardo Calafiori, an Italy and Bologna defender. Before the European Championship began, he had already been linked with a move to England. This is according to Football. London.
s interested from the likes of AC Milan, Inter, Juventus, and Napoli.
Calafiori played 90 minutes with Alessandro Bastoni, who scored the equaliser against Albania on Saturday and impressed with his defensive performance. After impressing Luciano Spalletti in Germany, there is already much speculation about the 22-year-old’s prospects.
The former Paris Saint-Germain midfielder was instrumental in Bologna’s eventual Champions League qualifying last season, taking the team to Europe with a magnificent string of performances.
Calafiori was one of the players who most exemplified Motta’s style, frequently sprinting from deep and ending up in the box during assaults, playing across the backline, and moving out into midfield. If a trade is done, he might change teams for the fourth season in a row.
After progressing through the Roma system, he spent time on loan at Genoa in the second part of the 2021/22 season. He then relocated permanently to Basel, but only for a year since Bologna hired him. It only took him one year back in Italy to catch the attention of his national team, having previously only been capped at the age-group level, and he is now a player to watch this summer.
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Califiori has typically played centrally, but he is as effective at full-back. The Blues are looking for new alternatives on the left, as Ian Maatsen is poised to leave.
Enzo Maresca is said to be interested in signing new left-backs this summer, and Calafiori’s performance in Italy’s opening game is surely worth watching.