Former player, coach and pundit Ciccio Graziani claims Napoli got the ‘better defender’ in Alessandro Buongiorno, rather than Arsenal investing in Riccardo Calafiori.
Both centre-backs were in the Italy squad at EURO 2024 and are moving on from their current clubs this summer for new experiences.
Buongiorno has agreed a €40m including bonuses transfer to Antonio Conte’s Napoli from Torino, while Arsenal are in advanced negotiations to pay over €50m for Bologna star Calafiori.
“Everyone talks about Calafiori, and that’s absolutely right, but Buongiorno is an even better defender and Napoli are getting a bargain if they buy him,” Graziani told Radio Kiss Kiss Napoli.
“He is young, but already has a lot of experience behind him.”
Comparing Buongiorno and Calafiori
Buongiorno is 25 years old and a product of the Torino youth academy, who had some loan spells at Carpi and Trapani, but has been consistently in the Granata starting XI for several years now.
He has played 99 Serie A games and 10 in the Coppa Italia.
On the other hand, Calafiori at 22 is well-travelled, from the Roma youth system to Genoa, FC Basel and then Bologna last summer.
He played 43 Serie A games, but does have appearances in the Europa League and Conference League too.