Arsenal’s Riccardo Calafiori has revealed an unexpected footballing idol – and he’s not what many would have imagined.
In a recent exclusive interview with VERSUSThe Italian international spoke candidly about everything from his role as an ambassador for Adidas’ underwear line to who he thinks has the best hair at Arsenal (Noni Madueke, for the record).
But it was his football idol who really caught the attention.
While most would assume he admired legendary Italian defenders like Paolo Maldini or Alessandro Nesta, Calafiori revealed that his inspiration came from a more surprising source: former Manchester City and AS Roma full-back Aleksandar Kolarov.
“When I was younger at Roma, I was lucky to train with the first team,” Calafiori explained. “I learned directly from Aleksandar Kolarov, who played my position. He was someone I could watch every day – his technique, his mentality – and he gave me advice and little details that I still carry with me today.”
Although Kolarov was his main influence, Calafiori mentioned the classic icons of Italian defense. “Of course, defenders like Maldini, Nesta, Chiellini… those players are icons for me,” he added.
Elsewhere in the interview, the 23-year-old spoke about life at Arsenal since his £42million move from Bologna last summer.
“It’s special,” he said. “They are all good guys, we are friends and I feel very comfortable here. Last season was not easy, but I came back this summer with a fire inside me. I couldn’t wait to start again. Playing in the Premier League is the dream of many players, so now I just want to enjoy it and show what I can do consistently.”
Kolarov was a pillar of consistency at Manchester City, helping the club win two Premier League titles. Now, Calafiori is no doubt hoping to replicate his idol’s success at Arsenal.
