RICCARDO Calafiori may be unfamiliar to some Arsenal supporters, but his road to the Premier League is worth noting.
There’s a lot more to learn about this emerging Italian star, from overcoming a catastrophic injury to establishing himself as a top defense, and even inventing his own goal celebration.
2Riccardo Calafiori is a new addition to the Arsenal teamCredit: Getty
Who is Riccardo Calafiori?
Riccardo Calafiori, an Italian professional footballer, was born on May 19, 2002.
He now plays as a defender for Arsenal in the Premier League and the Italy national team.
Riccardo started his career with Roma and signed his first contract in 2018.
Despite a significant knee injury in 2018, he made a remarkable debut in Serie A in August 2020, helping to a victory over Juventus.
Riccardo told Roma TV about his injury: “The journey was definitely the most difficult thing I faced.”
“I had a knee that was three times the size of the other one, I had a fever, and I felt insecure.”
He scored his first professional goal in December 2020, during a UEFA Europa League encounter.
Riccardo spent some of the 2021-2022 season on loan with Genoa.
He signed a permanent contract with Basel in August 2022 and will play under head coach Alexander Frei.
In August 2023, Riccardo joined Bologna and played as a center-back under Thiago Motta.
His outstanding performances, including two goals against Juventus, helped Bologna qualify for the UEFA Champions League.
In July 2024, he signed a five-year contract with Arsenal, marking a big transition to the Premier League.
Riccardo made his debut with the Italy U21 team in September 2021.
He was called up to the senior team in May 2024 and made his debut in a June 2024 friendly against Turkey.
He was included to Italy’s squad for UEFA Euro 2024.
What is Riccardo Calafiori’s goal celebration?
2Riccardo’s future goal celebration involves a tribute to his home countryCredit: Getty
Riccardo Calafiori has hinted at a distinctive and fun goal celebration during his tenure at Arsenal.
During a media day, he was asked about his goal celebration and revealed that he did not have one prepared.
He was then instructed to think about his favourite dish for inspiration.
Riccardo has created a celebration that cleverly resembles twisting spaghetti around a fork, paying homage to classic Italian cuisine.
Many Arsenal players are noted for their unique goal celebrations.
Gabriel Jesus frequently celebrates by holding a phone to his ear after scoring, while Bukayo Saka has been seen holding the corner flag.
Martin Ødegaard frequently covers his ears during celebrations.