Real Madrid will not launch the offensive to sign 22-year-old Italian international Riccardo Calafiori from Bologna this summer.
According to a report by Spanish outlet COPE, Riccardo Calafiori has been the subject of interest from Real Madrid. The Merengues are scouring the market for a centre-back heading into the summer transfer window. However, they have cooled their interest in the 22-year-old Bologna defender.
The Riccardo Calafiori story
Riccardo Calafiori has seen his stock soar since returning to his homeland last summer. A graduate of the youth division at AS Roma, the Italian international needed to move to Switzerland to find a stable footing in his career, going from strength to strength during his spell at FC Basel.
The 22-year-old has turned out 33 times thus far for Bologna, chipping in with two goals and five assists. Calafiori’s performances for the Rossoblu helped him break into his national team, as he made his senior bow ahead of UEFA Euro 2024 before becoming a regular at the back at the European Championships.
With the Azzurri out of the Euros, Calafiori can focus on his future at the club level, with several high-profile clubs setting their sights on him. Premier League bigwigs, in particular, have been keen on signing the Bologna defender in the summer transfer window. However, the latest reports have linked him with Real Madrid.
Will Real Madrid sign Calafiori?
Real Madrid’s links with Riccardo Calafiori made sense. The Merengues have been scouring the market for a centre-back heading into the summer transfer window. Nacho has left Real Madrid as a free agent to join Al-Qadsiah, while Rafa Marin will likely complete a permanent move to Napoli in the coming weeks.
In addition, David Alaba and Antonio Rudiger are on the wrong side of 30. So, it behoves Real Madrid to invest in a young centre-back, with Calafiori emerging as a viable target. However, the reigning La Liga champions have cooled their interest in the 22-year-old Italian international.
Leny Yoro is Real Madrid’s priority target to bolster the central defensive unit, and they will focus on sealing the deal to sign the 18-year-old Frenchman. As for Calafiori, he will either move to Juventus or join a Premier League bigwig in the summer transfer window.
