Arsenal and Italy defender Riccardo Calafiori has admitted that he was blown away by one key detail from Manchester United’s iconic Old Trafford stadium.
Riccardo Calafiori has been linked with Manchester United before and the 23-year-old Gunners star’s future at Arsenal is uncertain ahead of the summer window.
The Arsenal star, who has also been linked with Inter Milan and Napoli, has had his chance to play at Old Trafford since his 2024 move to the Emirates from Bologna.
Old Trafford had built a formidable reputation during the height of Sir Alex Ferguson’s reign for being one of the most difficult venues to visit for away teams.
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Arsenal’s Riccardo Calafiori drops a perfect rating on one part of Man Utd’s Old Trafford stadium
Riccardo Calafiori sat down with La Gazzetta dello Sport and the former Basel and Roma player broke down his feelings about Manchester United’s stadium.
“In the past, I think it was better, six, let’s say,” he said.
Despite his six out of 10 rating for the current standards at Old Trafford, Calafiori opened up about his complete surprise at the Red Devils’ pitch at their stadium.
Calafiori insisted that it was “truly crazy” the first time that he walked onto the pitch at the Theatre of Dreams and was deeply impressed by the “quality” as well.
“The pitch is maybe one of the best, both for the stadium, let’s say, for the history—the first time I walked in it was truly crazy,” he admitted.
“And also, the actual quality of the pitch, in my opinion, is one of the best, maybe 10.”
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Ineos and Red Devils co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe have already unveiled plans for Man Utd to move into a new stadium and modernise the club’s venue in a dramatic way.
United have faced major criticism over different parts of Old Trafford, including the infamous leaking roof at the stadium and criticism around the club’s facilities.
However, Calafiori suggested that the facilities at Old Trafford are nowhere near as bad as they are made out to be and admitted that he likes what he has seen there.
“I hear many people complain, saying it’s old for an English stadium, so… but I really like it, seven or eight,” he said.
United’s new stadium is expected to be a 100,000-capacity venue and will be built near Old Trafford, with the Red Devils’ long-term replacement project set to cost £2bn.
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