Arsenal summer signing explains his January visit to the Emirates | OneFootball

It’s been widely reported that Riccardo Calafiori came to watch Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium months before his transfer, and the player has now explained why.

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND: Riccardo Calafiori of Arsenal looks on during the Premier League match between Manchester City FC and Arsenal FC at Etihad Stadium on September 22, 2024. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)

When Riccardo Calafiori signed for Arsenal this summer, he revealed in an Instagram post that he’d already been to visit the Emirates Stadium earlier in the year.

The video showed him walking down the tunnel at Arsenal tube station ahead of the Gunners’ game against Crystal Palace, with fans chanting behind him.

Speaking to the BBC, Calafiori has finally explained why he was there.

“I just came here (to London) to visit the city, because I’d never been,” Calafiori explained. “Then I saw Arsenal were playing against Crystal Palace.”

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND: Riccardo Calafiori of Arsenal celebrates scoring his team’s first goal with teammates during the Premier League match between Manchester City FC and Arsenal FC at Etihad Stadium on September 22, 2024. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)

Interviewer Roman Kemp pointed out that the Gunners won 5-0 that day, and suggested that must have made a good impression on the player.

“It’s not bad!” Calafiori responded.

But Calafiori’s trip to the Emirates was perhaps also inspired by the fact Mikel Arteta had already been in contact over a potential transfer.

“They started so early,” Calafiori revealed. “Like one year. Mikel (Arteta) started to call me a bit, he just wanted to explain to me what they think about me, he tried to convince me. But I was already convinced.”

BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND: Riccardo Calafiori of Arsenal acknowledges the fans after the teams victory over Aston Villa in the Premier League match between Aston Villa FC and Arsenal FC at Villa Park on August 24, 2024. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

After his trip to London and his experience watching the win over Palace, there was evidently no turning back for Calafiori.

It took a while for Arsenal and Bologna to come to an agreement, with further delays due to the player’s participation at the Euros with Italy. But eventually, the deal was done and the 22-year-old moved to his new home.