Arsenal’s Riccardo Calafiori has a surprising football idol—and it’s not who you’d expect.

In an exclusive chat with VERSUS, the Italian international opened up about a range of topics. From his involvement as an ambassador for adidas’ underwear collection to his thoughts on the best hair at Arsenal—crediting Noni Madueke—Calafiori was refreshingly candid.

However, what truly piqued interest was his choice of footballing inspiration.

While many would assume he idolizes iconic Italian defenders like Paolo Maldini or Alessandro Nesta, Calafiori’s admiration lies elsewhere. His hero is Aleksandar Kolarov, the former full-back for Manchester City and AS Roma.

“During my early days at Roma, I was fortunate to train with the first team,” Calafiori recalled. “I learned a lot from Aleksandar Kolarov, who played in my position. Watching him daily—his technique and mentality—was invaluable. He shared advice and small insights that I still cherish today.”

Although Kolarov was his main influence, Calafiori did mention the classic icons of Italian defending. “Of course, defenders like Maldini, Nesta, Chiellini… those players are icons for me,” he added.

Elsewhere in the interview, the 23-year-old spoke about life at Arsenal since his £42m summer move from Bologna last summer.

“It’s special,” he said. “Everyone’s a good guy, we’re friends, and I feel really comfortable here. Last season wasn’t easy, but I came back this summer with a fire inside me. I couldn’t wait to start again. Playing in the Premier League is the dream for so many players, so now I just want to enjoy it and show what I can do consistently.”

Kolarov was a pillar of consistency at Manchester City, helping the club win two Premier League titles. Now, Calafiori will undoubtedly be hoping to replicate his idol’s success at Arsenal.