Euro 2024 star Riccardo Calafiori is a transfer target for a number of top European clubs this summer, but the Italy international previously named two Premier League sides he would love to join two years ago.
Calafiori enjoyed a brilliant 2023/24 season as he helped Bologna to a surprise Champions League qualification place in Serie A. He made his Italy debut in June and was named in their squad for this summer’s European Championships, where he made three appearances before the Azzurri were eliminated by Switzerland in the last 16.
Juventus are one side keen on the 22-year-old reports suggest Real Madrid are interested, although most of the speculation revolves around a switch to the Premier League, where teams like Arsenal and Chelsea have dominated the speculation.
Chelsea’s interest could be significant as, back in 2022 during his time with Basel, Calafiori named the Blues as one of the two Premier League sides he admires most.
Calafiori told VoceGialloRossa: “My dream would be to play in the Premier League. I really like West Ham or Chelsea.”
Bologna aren’t expected to rush into a decision regarding Calafiori’s future given he has a contract which runs until 2027, leaving the Serie A side in a strong position to request a hefty transfer fee for his services.
Heading into Euro 2024, Calafiori had been primarily linked with a move to Juventus, but Bologna director Giovanni Sartori recently suggested the centre-back will likely depart Serie A if he is sold this summer.
“We took him 12 months ago so we’ll see what happens in the market but in our heads there is the will to keep him,” Sartori said.
“We will try to keep him but if important offers arrive we will have to take them into consideration. I don’t think he will go to Juventus, he will probably go to a different market.”