FOOTBALL
Posted on June 17, 2026 12:00 am | Updated on June 16, 2026 9:52 pm Calafiori stays as Real Madrid close in on Marc Cucurella.
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Real Madrid have signed Marc Cucurella and the news could not be better for Arsenal, with Riccardo Calafiori now set to stay at the Emirates.
Real Madrid turn to Cucurella as Calafiori stays put
As reported by BBC, Real Madrid have completed the signing of Marc Cucurella from Chelsea for a fee of up to £51.8 million. The initial figure stood at £47.5 million, with £4.3 million in add-ons also part of the deal. The move is now confirmed, ending any real threat of Arsenal losing Calafiori to Madrid this summer. For Arsenal, this news puts an end to any real threat of losing Calafiori to Madrid this summer.
Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho had pushed hard to sign Calafiori as his first-choice left-back. He wanted the Italian to complete a defensive rebuild that also brought in Denzel Dumfries and Ibrahima Konate. With Cucurella now settled at the Bernabeu, Mourinho’s interest in Calafiori has come to nothing.
Calafiori’s club stats this season, as perFOTMOB:
Competition Matches Goals Assists Clean Sheets Duels Won Tackles
Premier League 26 1 2 4 104 32
UCL 6 0 1 2 24 9
FA Cup 2 0 0 0 4 1
EFL Cup 2 0 0 0 7 2
Arsenal were never going to sell Riccardo Calafiori
As reported by football.london, Arsenal had no plans to sell Calafiori, no matter what Real Madrid put on the table. The Gunners felt no pressure to talk, as the Italian still had three years left on his deal at the Emirates. That gives Arteta the stability he needs at the back as Arsenal push for more after last season’s Champions League final. With their summer focus on adding attack, losing one of their best defenders from the back was the last thing they needed.
Calafiori is more than just a left-back, and Arteta has used him in several spots across the defence. Players with that kind of flexibility are genuinely rare in Arsenal’s squad. He can carry the ball out under pressure and fits well into a high press, which makes him stand out from most defenders in the Premier League. Finding that same profile in a single football transfer window, at a reasonable price, would have been nearly impossible.
Injury record remains the biggest concern
Riccardo Calafiori has struggled to stay fit since joining from Bologna in 2024, and that has been a real worry. He has missed 44 matchday squads for both club and country, spanning nine different injury problems, as per Transfermarkt. For a player bought for around £45 million who plays a key role in how Arteta sets up, that level of absence is very hard to ignore.
His worst moment came just before the Champions League final in Budapest, where Arteta had to leave him out of the starting lineup after a problem came up during the week. As reported by football.london, “With Richy, we’ve had certain issues with him during the week as well, so the others are starting,”the Arsenal boss said before kick-off. Missing a European final due to injury is never easy, and for Calafiori it summed up a tough first year in north London.
Arsenal need their key defenders fit and available all through a long and demanding season, and Calafiori has not done that yet. The Cucurella deal may have shut the Real Madrid door, and that is good news for Arsenal, but Arteta knows that keeping Calafiori fit will matter far more than just keeping him at the club.
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Deepanjali Bhardwaj
Deepanjali Bhardwaj is a Sports Writer at Six Sports, covering both football and cricket with a focus on match developments, player performances, and key talking points across the two sports. Her work combines timely reporting with clear analysis, helping readers stay informed about major matches, tournaments, and emerging storylines in the football and cricket landscape. Through her coverage at Six Sports, Deepanjali contributes match reports, analytical pieces, and feature stories that highlight important moments, team strategies, and standout player performances across domestic and international competitions.
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