Bologna have internally accepted that it will be ‘almost impossible’ to keep Riccardo Calafiori this summer ahead of anticipated interest from top clubs.
Calafiori has enhanced his growing reputation with some impressive performances for Italy during the Euro 2024 group stage, having broken into the Azzurri side after a standout season for Bologna in Serie A.
The 22-year-old helped Bologna secured a fifth-placed finish and Champions League qualification, with the club set to compete in UEFA’s top club competition for the first time since 1964-65.
Bologna had hoped to keep the core of their overachieving side together, having already lost head coach Thiago Motta to Juventus, but have accepted it will be ‘almost impossible’ to hold onto the services of in-demand defender Calafiori.
Motta wants to sign Calafiori for Juventus and Fabrizio Romano has revealed the player has given the ‘green light’ to a move to Turin. However, no agreement has been reached between the clubs and there is significant interest in Calafiori from the Premier League.
Liverpool and Tottenham have been heavily-linked with signing the defender, while Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea are also interested in signing centre-backs this summer.
Calafiori’s game has evolved since moving from full-back to a central role this season, where he scored twice and provided five assists, and ranked sixth in Serie A for interceptions and percentage of aerial duels won.
Bologna are set to make a huge profit on a player signed from Swiss side FC Basel for a fee of £5m last summer.
