Riccardo Calafiori might prefer to stay in Italy, which could hurt Tottenham and Newcastle United’s chances of landing the defender.
According to Tutto Juve, Tottenham and Newcastle United could be dealt a blow in their pursuit of Riccardo Calafiori. The defender is likely to stay put in Italy. He might still move away from Bologna with Juventus keen, as his side set about a €30 million price tag for his sale.
Riccardo Calafiori to stay in Italy?
Bologna had a terrific season under Thiago Motta, helping the club to third place in the Serie A table with one game to play. Things are in their hands ahead of the final matchday, as a win would all but seal their current spot in the standings.
They might have to deal with intense pressure ahead of the summer, as many top clubs will have their sights on some of Bologna’s top performers. Some are already chasing striker Joshua Zirkzee, while Tottenham, Bayer Leverkusen and Juventus are considerably interested in defender Riccardo Calafiori.
Signed for the club in a modest €4 million move from Swiss side Basel, Calafiori has been worth every penny spent and has been one of Bolognba’s top performers in the season. A left-footed centre-back by trade, he can switch to a full-back role if needed, which has attracted the interest of top clubs in his services.
In any case, he would want to stay in Italy even if he were to leave Bologna. As things stand, Juventus are the front-runners for his signature, with the Bianconeri director Cristiano Guintoli seen in the stands watching him in Bologna’s most recent clash. His club were considering a sale for about €25 million earlier, but a 40% sell-on clause agreed with Basel could see the price increase to about €30 million, if not more, during the summer.
Disappointment for Tottenham and Newcastle United
Tottenham and Newcastle United were two of the English clubs that set sights on Calafiori. Spurs have been particularly strong in the Italian market over the last few years and had hoped to sign one of Serie A’s top talents over in the summer.
Calafiori’s potential price tag, which might go up to €30 million, made him an exciting target for the likes of Newcastle, who are keen to sign defenders in the upcoming window. However, the Italian prospect’s decision to stay in his homeland will have come as a big disappointment for the likes of the Magpies and Spurs.
