Calafiori seeking consistency at Arsenal despite reported Italy return

Riccardo Calafiori remains content at Arsenal and is keen to find more consistency next season, despite reports of a return to Italy.

The former Bologna defender is reportedly a target of AC Milan, who are said to have enquired about the availability of Arsenal’s versatile defender.

Calafiori only moved to the Emirates Stadium from Bologna last season, playing 29 times and making 16 starts in his debut term with Mikel Arteta’s side.

The 23-year-old could have featured more, too, if not for a troublesome campaign marred by injuries.

And Calafiori insists his focus remains on succeeding with Arsenal and finding regular first-team football, rather than a reported move back to his home country.

Responding to suggestions that he could return to Italy, Calafiori told Gianluca di Marzio: “At Arsenal, I’m very happy.

“I always feel good in any position I play in order to help the team. What was missing last season was consistency, and I’ll look to find that consistency next season.”

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Indeed, Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba remain at Arteta’s first-choice centre-back pairing, though Kieran Tierney’s exit leaves Arsenal with less cover in the left-back position that Calafiori can slot into.

He played 1,496 minutes across all competitions last season for the Premier League side, which was less than Gabriel, Saliba, Jurrien Timber, Jakub Kiwior and Myles Lewis-Skelly.

However, only Timber (55) and Saliba (48) won more than his 31 tackles for Arsenal last season, and Calafiori expects to feature heavily again as Arteta’s side chase the Premier League title.

“When I felt good, I always played and made a difference in the team,” he added.

“So the goal next season is to be in form for the whole season.”