Featured Image Credit: Getty
Topics: Serie A, Premier League, Euro 2024, West Ham United, Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea, Football
Ryan Smart
Topics: Serie A, Premier League, Euro 2024, West Ham United, Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea, Football
Italy star Riccardo Calafiori has already named the two Premier League clubs he 'dreams' of joining.
The 22-year-old starred in Italy's 2-1 win over Albania at Euro 2024 on Saturday, being named as the player of the match.
He earned his call-up to the senior international team as a result of his superb season with Serie A side Bologna, during which he helped them qualify for the Champions League for the first time in their history.
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Calafiori had long been considered as a future star of Italian football, and signed his first professional contract with Roma at the age of 16.
But his progress was halted in 2018 when he suffered a horrific knee injury during a UEFA Youth League match, with his knee described as being 'torn to pieces'.
Upon his return to action 14 months later, Calafiori broke through into Roma's first team before signing permanently for Basel in 2022. He joined Bologna last summer.
Juventus are currently leading the race to sign the Italian centre-back, who can also play at left-back, this summer.
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A move to Turin would reunite him with manager Thiago Motta, who departed Bologna last month after guiding them to Champions League qualification.
But a repeat of his Euro 2024 performance against Albania would surely catch the eye of clubs from across the world - and Calafiori himself has previously name-dropped two Premier League clubs that he would be interested in joining.
Speaking to Italian outlet Vocegiallorossa in December 2022, the defender revealed that his preference would be to move to a London club if he was to transfer to the Premier League.
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He said: "I have two images: Going back to Italy, perhaps in Rome, or my dream would be to play in the Premier League.
"I really like West Ham or Chelsea."
However, CaughtOffside claim that a third London-based Premier League club want to sign him, with Tottenham 'initiating talks' over bringing in the 22-year-old.
Spurs have often shopped in the Italian market for defensive reinforcements in recent seasons, with Cristian Romero and Radu Dragusin arriving from Atalanta and Genoa respectively.