Former Bologna defender Riccardo Calafioli is determined to adapt to his new surroundings at Arsenal as soon as possible. In a new interview with the BBC via TMW, the highly rated Italy international revealed his ambition to embrace life in London “fully”.
“I want to experience this new adventure to the fullest, as if I were a real British person,” said Calafioli. “Start with language. Since childhood, I have always had a passion for learning languages, and I started with Netflix and song lyrics. I’m still learning too, so I want to improve.”
Getting used to British food is very different from Italian food, but it’s not difficult for Calafiori.
“What about British food? I was expecting worse, but it wasn’t that bad. I’ve even tried fish and chips, but even if it’s not healthy, it’s doable once a month. ” he admitted.
Calafioli left Bologna in the summer to join Arsenal in a €50 million move after an excellent 2023/24 season under manager Thiago Motta. The 22-year-old explained how a phone conversation with Mikel Arteta convinced him to continue his career at the Emirates Stadium.
“First he texted me and then asked if he could call me,” Calafiori said. “He was very humble and approachable on the phone. He wanted to explain the situation and what I could do better. He tried to convince me, but the truth is that I was already convinced Not just for Arsenal, but especially for Mikel.
After starting on the bench for a few games, Calafiori became a regular starter for Arsenal. His only goal for the Gunners so far came in a 2-2 derby against Manchester City in September.
