Serie A Return Looks Unlikely for Ex-Milan and Arsenal Men
Tijjani Reijnders and Riccardo Calafiori could be on the move this summer, but don't expect either to be heading back to Italy. The pair, both former Serie A stars, are being priced out of a return by their current clubs' hefty valuations.
According to Matteo Moretto via Calciomercato, Manchester City are prepared to let Reijnders go despite shelling out €55M plus €15M in potential bonuses to sign him from Milan last year. The Dutchman managed 7 goals and 8 assists in 47 appearances during his first season in England, but lost playing time towards the end of the campaign. New boss Enzo Maresca is reportedly favouring more physical options in midfield.
Juventus have been linked with Reijnders as they look to add creativity, but Atletico Madrid are said to be much closer to him. His price tag remains a significant obstacle.
Calafiori faces a similar situation. Tuttomercatoweb reports that Real Madrid have the 24-year-old on their radar, though Arsenal are not inclined to sell. An offer close to €100M might be enough to change their minds, but that's a steep ask. The defender has racked up 4 goals and 5 assists in 65 appearances since moving to London.
Real Madrid have already strengthened their backline with Ibrahima Konaté and Marc Cucurella, and are now focusing on Ruben Dias and Alessandro Bastoni. That leaves Calafiori's future uncertain.
If Juventus were in their economic prime, they'd snap up both players without hesitation. Those days, however, are long gone. Calafiori will likely stay put or move to another powerhouse in a massive deal. Reijnders could potentially be available to Serie A sides late in the window if City grow desperate to make room and are open to letting him go on favourable terms.