Arsenal summer signing refused to enter talks with Chelsea | OneFootball

Riccardo Calafiori had interest from Chelsea and Real Madrid this summer before eventually completing his transfer to Arsenal.

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)

The Athletic report that Arsenal pursued Riccardo Calafiori throughout 2024, first making contact with his agents in January, before stepping up those conversations in May.

When Arsenal started to formalise their interest, Chelsea decided they were interested too. But Calafiori’s representatives reportedly refused to enter talks out of respect for the Gunners.

The player’s camp were less emphatic when Real Madrid showed an interest, at the very least entertaining that interest. That pushed Arsenal not to continue waiting for a sale and to finalise the Calafiori deal while they still could.

BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND: Riccardo Calafiori of Arsenal is clashes with Ezri Konzsa and Youri Tielemans of Aston Villa during the Premier League match between Aston Villa FC and Arsenal FC at Villa Park on August 24, 2024. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

Arsenal ended up signing Calafiori for a fee that could reach €50m (£42.1m), but with an initial cost of around €40m (£33.7m).

As well as Real Madrid and Chelsea, Juventus and Bayern Munich have also been credited with a summer interest in the player, but Arsenal ended up doing the deal ahead of all of them.

At the time, Mikel Arteta suggested Calafiori was always keen to join the Gunners.

“When I spoke to him one or two times and I knew the other things and I wasn’t really sure if we could [make the signing] or not, he was adamant,” Arteta said.

“‘Let me know when you’re ready, my bags are ready, and I just want to come to Arsenal.’

“Those were his words, and when you have that feeling and someone with that willingness to join us, to make us better, and that determination, that’s something really powerful. I think as a club we should be very proud of that.”

LONDON, ENGLAND: Riccardo Calafiori of Arsenal is challenged by Gift Orban of Olympique Lyonnais during the pre-season friendly match between Arsenal and Olympique Lyonnais at Emirates Stadium on August 11, 2024. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

Calafiori is yet to play a significant role for Arsenal this season, but he’s been increasingly involved in each match.

After sitting on the bench against Wolves in Arsenal’s opening Premier League fixture, the summer signing played 11 minutes against Aston Villa, then 31 minutes against Brighton. It seems only a matter of time until he’s starting.