‘You’re like a young Sergio Ramos’ – Fabio Capello drools over Arsenal player live on air
Fabio Capello has urged Mikel Arteta to try Riccardo Calafiori out as a defensive midfielder and compared him to two of the greatest defenders of the modern era.
Arsenal blew Bayern Munich away in the Champions League on Wednesday (26 November) night as two late strikes saw them win 3-1 at the Emirates Stadium.
Jurrien Timber had given the Gunners the lead before Lennart Karl equalised, with Noni Madueke and Gabriel Martinelli both scoring in the second-half to secure a vital victory.
Riccardo Calafiori has been Arsenal’s first-choice left-back this season, but Mikel Arteta surprisingly chose to name Myles Lewis-Skelly in the starting eleven against Bayern ahead of him.
The Italian defender did come on off the bench and made an instant impact as he crossed for Madueke to score, and he received some high praise following the game with Arteta told to try him in a new position.
Fabio Capello says Riccardo Calafiori can play in midfield amid Sergio Ramos and Marcel Desailly comparison
Calafiori has nailed down the left-back spot in Arteta’s side this season, with one goal and three assists in 14 appearances so far.
He has played the majority of his career up to now at left-back, but is also equally adept at playing centre-back, and former England boss Fabio Capello believes that Arteta should also try him out as a defensive midfielder.
Speaking live on Sky Sports Italia on Wednesday, he said: “You’re like a young Sergio Ramos, only left-footed…the only thing is that Ramos played on the right, he had great quality, pressed well and improved.
“I’d put you in front of the back four, you’d be like Marcel Desailly, only with more quality on the ball.”
Calafiori played down being compared to such big names as he replied: “Maybe we should go slow with the comparisons…”
Myles Lewis-Skelly could leave in January after outstanding Calafiori form
Arsenal have arguably been the best team in Europe this season, as they now sit top of both the Premier League and Champions League standings respectively.
Calafiori has been a big part of their success, with the Gunners boasting the tightest defence in both competitions too, but his emergence has been to the detriment of young Lewis-Skelly.
Reports emerged earlier this month that numerous Premier League sides were targeting Lewis-Skelly for a potential January loan move following his tough start to the campaign.
Football Insider have revealed that Arteta does not want Lewis-Skelly to leave in the new year, but he will need to be given ample chances to shine ahead of Calafiori to get back into the England fold, and that seems unlikely given the Italian’s impressive form.