New Arsenal boy Calafiori reminds me of Cannavaro and Nesta, says ex-Chelsea star

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Exclusive by Alessandro Schiavone

A Chelsea one-timer has gushed about new Gunners defender Riccardo Calafiori, even comparing him to Italy great and 2006 Ballon d'Or winner Fabio Cannavaro.

Samuele Dalla Bona was 17 when the late Gianluca Vialli took a punt on him by bringing him to Chelsea following his riveting performances for Italy at the under-16 Euros in Scotland back in 1998.

And for ex-Bologna midfielder Dalla Bona, 22-year-old Calafiori has what it takes to live up to the hefty €45million price tag for a player largely unproven at international level.

Calafiori came through the ranks at AS Roma as a left-back but rose to prominence after Thiago Motta reinvented him as a centre-back for Bologna last term. And it's his rare skills on the ball, vision and capacity to drive forward and break the lines that prompted Mikel Arteta to invest big.

Yet at the heart of the defence he's up against tricky customers in Gabriel Maghalhaes and William Saliba and he may have to revert back to his old position.

But Dalla Bona warned: "I've only seen Riccardo play as a central defender and that’s where his strength lies.

"English football will be a challenge for him but he can be successful thanks to his physicality and incisive passing which create openings. And he's also eclectic.

"But there’s no guarantee it will be enough for the Premier League but if you ask me he won’t be a flop.”

Some have compared him to legendary old school Italian defenders like Paolo Maldini, Alessandro Nesta and Fabio Cannavaro due to his looks.

And Dalla Bona said as much: "Ricky is similar to Nesta and Cannavaro from their golden years due to his long hair and headband.

"But also thanks to his athleticism and personality.

"But careful even though Calafiori is reminiscent of them when it comes to appearance and awash with quality, he has a long way to go before he can be compared to Nesta, Cannavaro and Maldini.

"He’s only just burst onto the scene but first he has to play another fifteen seasons at the level he did for Bologna.

"But if Arsenal wanted him it's already a great starting point. Now he has to adapt.”