At a Glance:
- Real Madrid have already taken a step to sign Riccardo Calafiori.
- Jose Mourinho eyes Calafiori.
- Could Josko Gvardiol impact Calafiori to Real Madrid transfer?
Arsenal defender Riccardo Calafiori seems to have emerged as a transfer target for Real Madrid out of nowhere.
Jose Mourinho personally wants to sign Calafiori, as he admires the Italian’s ability to play at centre-back and left-back.
When the 24-year-old is fit, he is Mikel Arteta’s starting left-back and one of the most consistent performers in the Premier League winners’ roster.
| Riccardo Calafiori: 2025/2026 season | |
| Competition | Starts |
| Premier League | 22 |
| Champions League | 4 |
| FA Cup | 1 |
| Carabao Cup | 1 |
Calafiori has had a top-class season but it looks like Los Blancos’ ploy to secure his services has been in the works for a while.
Real Madrid have already made contact to sign Riccardo Calafiori
While Piero Hincapie has impressed since joining Arsenal, the Emirates faithful will be frustrated to discover that Real Madrid contacted people close to Calafiori weeks ago to explore his availability.
Fabrizio Romano claimed on his YouTube channel: “What I can reveal to you is there has been a contact with those close to Calafiori a few weeks ago, with Real Madrid asking for information on the Italian defender.”
The good news for Arsenal fans is that Romano revealed that club hold Calafiori in high esteem and it will be difficult for Real Madrid to pull off a potential deal to sign him.
“He’s still a very important player for Arsenal, so it’s not an easy one at all. For Arsenal, Calafiori is really an important part of the project, so let’s see what happens.”
Whether Josko Gvardiol move could stop Real Madrid from signing Riccardo Calafiori
With Myles Lewis-Skelly thriving in midfield, it seems unlikely that the England international would replace Calafiori at left-back if the latter ended up becoming a Real Madrid player.
Arsenal would have no choice but to sign Hincapie permanently and bring in a new left-back to replace the former Bologna colossus.
Real Madrid are also interested in signing Manchester City star Josko Gvardiol, who much like Calafiori is a centre-back by trade but operates at a high standard as a left-back.
Furthermore, Gvardiol’s contract at City expires in 2028 while Calafiori’s runs out in 2029. However, Fabrizio Romano reported that Real Madrid’s chances of landing the Croatian are not particularly high, as the Sky Blues have no intention to let him go.
“So, I saw many rumours about Josko Gvardiol, Gvardiol is appreciated by many clubs but at the moment, still a difficult target because for Manchester City, he is a crucial player.”
