Riccardo Calafiori is supposedly close to joining Arsenal, and his girlfriend has replied to claims that the couple has split up on the eve of his move to the Premier League.

The 22-year-old Italian international, who played for Gli Azzurri at Euro 2024, is reportedly close to joining Arsenal for £42.1 million.

Calafiori joined Bologna from Basel for £3.4 million last season, indicating a significant return for the Italian club if the transfer is completed.

Calafiori appeared 33 times for Bologna in all competitions last season, scoring twice, as the club finished fifth in Serie A.

If the teenage defender’s transfer is finalized, he would become Arsenal’s second signing of the summer, following David Raya’s loan move from Brentford, which was transformed into a permanent deal worth £27 million.

Calafiori performs mostly in the heart of defence, which means he will compete with William Saliba and Gabriel for Mikel Arteta’s team.

But, ahead of his transfer to North London, there has been discussion about his relationship status with girlfriend Benedetta Boeme.

According to a social media post attributed to Boeme, the couple may have recently separated.

She allegedly wrote: “Many of you have been asking what has been going on in my life recently, so I decided to finally share it with you. Riccardo and I are currently separated.

“I’m not sure if we’ll make it through, but I doubt it. I needed some time to comprehend everything that had happened over the previous three to four days. I still need time.

“It was a difficult decision that we deliberated over for several days. Neither of us wanted this, but what’s done is done, and I can’t help but want to run away from everything.”

However, Boeme has resorted to Instagram to respond to the social media posts, claiming that they are phony and that the rumors about her and Calafiori’s breakup are false.

She stated, “I find myself forced to write that I don’t have a TikTok profile!!

“Someone is impersonating as me and publishing false statements! This is my lone social media profile.

“I have never discussed anything and never will.

“I respectfully request that anyone who has opened the TikTok page pretending to be me and writing personal and delicate stuff, as mentioned in publications, close it immediately.

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