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Riccardo Calafiori's unique nickname as Arsenal star makes telling Mikel Arteta admission

Riccardo Calafiori of Arsenal FC reacts during the UEFA Champions League match between Sporting CP and Arsenal FC at Jose Alvalade Stadium in Lisbon, Portugal, on November 26, 2024
-Credit:Photo by Jose Manuel Alvarez Rey/JAR Sport Images/NurPhoto via Getty Images


Arsenal defender Riccardo Calafiori has revealed why he was so keen to join Arsenal in the summer.

The Italian joined the Gunners from Bologna in a deal worth around £42million in July. Although the 22-year-old has suffered from a few injuries in his debut season in north London, he has impressed when he has been on the pitch.

Operating at mostly left-back but sometimes at centre-back, Calafiori has made 16 appearances so far and even scored the winner against Manchester City in September. Nearly six months after moving to Emirates Stadium, the defender has revealed Mikel Arteta was a major reason why he wanted to join the Gunners.

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"I think the details, in everything. It’s something I’ve never seen before in a coach," Calafiori told Arsenal's official website. "Nothing is casual with him, we do everything on the training and mentally he’s strong.

"I was really excited because he showed me his idea and the project that he had for me and I couldn't wait anymore to play for him because I think it was the right option to develop and to improve, to become a top player. That's why I'm here and I want to keep going."

It could have been so different for the defender, however. When he was just 16 years old he tore every ligament in his left knee, as well as the meniscus and the articular capsule, while playing for Roma's academy. Doctors told the defender he may not play again but, instead, Calafiori used this as motivation to make it as a professional.

He revealed: "To be honest, I was lucky that I was so young, because I was 16. My only thoughts were coming back from the injury and just playing again, because, as you mentioned before, they said I would probably stop my career before it's even started. So I just want to play again and that's it."

Calafiori made his debut for Roma in August 2020 and went on to play for Basel and Bologna before moving to Arsenal. Nicknamed 'Rupsa' by his father, which means bulldozer in Italian, Calafiori believes his versatility is one of his biggest strengths.

"One of my skills for sure is my intensity and my mental strength. What I like to do on the pitch is go go go during the whole game," the defender said.

"I don't mind playing left-back, centre-back, I want to play also as a midfielder if I have to. I just want to have fun on the pitch. It depends on the team and the idea of the coach.

"For example, Mikel wants me to stay more inside, so I play more as a centre-back sometimes and when we attack, I can contact the ball so many times so I’m into the game and I like it. But last year, I did the same as a centre-back so it depends."