Riccardo Calafiori's potential destinations - ranked

29/06/2024

When you type 'aura' into X/Twitter, chances are you'll be bombarded with tweets about Italy's new centre-back star Riccardo Calafiori.

And while a lot of tweets are about how he looks like an amalgamation of Alessandro Nesta, Paolo Maldini and 2002 Fabio Cannavaro (when he had long hair), a lot are also about how brilliant his performances at Euro 2024 have been.

Put simply, the 22-year-old has been brilliant so far – unfortunate own goal against Spain and side – and his displays have understandably seen him linked with a raft of Europe's top clubs.

Current employers Bologna know all about his talents after stunningly qualifying for next season's Champions League, but there's now a huge question over whether Calafiori will actually be there to take part.

Here's an assessment of his options and where the best landing spot would be.

6. Tottenham Hotspur

riccardo calafiori's potential destinations - ranked

Working with Ange Postecoglou could appeal | Matthew Lewis/GettyImages

Leaving a club destined for Champions League football in 2024/25 for a club that isn't doesn't make a whole lot of sense for Calafiori at this stage in his career.

Sure, Ange Postecoglou has got Tottenham playing some pretty tasty stuff, and they are undoubtedly a bigger club with bigger resources, bigger ability to draw and bigger, well, everything. Nevertheless, it would be the wrong step.

Good fit rating: 1/10

5. Chelsea

Maresca is the new manager tasked with taking Chelsea forward | Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/GettyImages

As mentioned above, leaving a Champions League club for a club that hasn't qualified for the competition doesn't make sense.

Unlike any move to Tottenham though, in this instance at least Calafiori would be joining a team with a winning pedigree and a future route to challenging for the Premier League title.

That said, Chelsea don't seem to have any clue about what they are doing in the transfer market - planting many, many red flags for Calafiori.

Good fit rating: 3/10

4. Arsenal

Arteta is a top manager | Julian Finney/GettyImages

The first Champions League club on this list.

Thanks to their stunning form under Mikel Arteta in recent seasons, Arsenal are one of the most enticing clubs in Europe right now.

While joining the Gunners would, on the surface, be a great move for Calafiori, Gabriel having the left centre-back role firmly sewed up may make first-team football slightly difficult to come by.

Is there any point risking being a rotation option? Doubtful.

Good fit rating: 4/10

3. Man Utd

Highly-rated | Jonathan Moscrop/GettyImages

Manchester United are another non-Champions League team, but they are literally Manchester United.

And with the Sir Jim Ratcliffe/INEOS revolution underway, things appear to be a little more cohesive in terms of their approach to transfers – the less said about the treatment of their women's team, the better.

Calafiori would be a statement signing for new technical director Jason Wilcox, representing what United hope is a new era of success. A good fit next to Lisandro Martinez too? You bet.

Good fit rating: 6/10

2. Real Madrid

Joining Carlo Ancelotti? | Alex Pantling/GettyImages

Yep, the biggest club in the world and current European champions are reportedly interested in Calafiori.

That is quite the compliment.

Kylian Mbappe and Endrick have already been secured for their frontline, and with Nacho Fernandez leaving and David Alaba and Eder Militao making their way back from ACL injuries, the next obvious thing to do is find Antonio Rudiger a shiny new partner who could end up being the best of Carlo Ancelotti's bunch.

Just picture it.

Good fit rating: 8/10

1. Juventus

Juve bound? | Timothy Rogers/GettyImages

Calafiori has long been expected to link up with his former manager Thiago Motta at Juventus this summer.

Trouble is, the Nesta/Maldini/Cannavaro looks regen has been so good at Euro 2024 that Juve are now worried that his price tag has skyrocketed so much that they now can't afford to sign him.

Despite those fears, La Vecchia Signora have to do all they can to secure Calafiori's services. He'd be a game changer for the club.