It turns out that Arsenal’s newest addition, Riccardo Calafiori, is a big fan of Manchester City defender John Stones.
Speaking at the end of last season, when he was still at Bologna, Calafiori said that he had modelled his game on the England international:
“His style of play is closest to mine. [John] Stones is my reference. It’s not off the cuff when I go into midfield. It’s following the guidelines of the coach [Thiago Motta].”
“He saw me in this role. I’ve learned heaps from him. The gaffer is revolutionary, smart, demanding and clear in what he wants.”
Stones is the archetypal modern-day centre-half
You can’t blame Calafiori for taking inspiration from the City defender. Under the guidance of manager Pep Guardiola, he has become an outstanding player, who can play in multiple positions.
Even before Stones arrived at the Etihad, he was confident on the ball, but his game has since been sculpted by Guardiola so he can play as an inverted fullback, in central midfield and even further up the pitch if required.
The 30-year-old’s technical ability is right up there so he is very capable of applying himself to any task that he is given.
Calafiori has some way to go before he matches the City defender’s achievements
It should be pointed out that, until last season, Calafiori played mostly as a fullback so he hasn’t had that long to come to terms with his new position.
Some have already suggested that Gunners boss Mikel Arteta will move him back out to the left flank, and it remains to be seen how he will cope with the pressures of the Premier League.
Stones, on the other hand, has proven during his eight years in Manchester that he is right up there with the best centre-backs in the country.
Find out who is in Manchester City’s first-team squad for 2024/2025 season here
