Mourinho's ex-club Roma to sue over Calafiori's move to Arsenal

Serie A side AS Roma are reportedly set to further complicate the Riccardo Calafiori move to Arsenal as they prepare for a legal battle against Basel over remuneration. 

After an impressive season for Bologna, in which he helped them qualify for the Champions League, and an impressive European Championship with Italy, Calafiori placed himself on the radar of Arsenal. 

After weeks of negotiations, Calafiori is set to join the Gunners for a fee of around €45 million. Arsenal had since reached an agreement with the 21-year-old on personal terms and also agreed with the selling club on the ballpark 

However, the negotiations stalled due to a dispute between Basel—Calafiori’s former club—and Bologna over the terms of the sell-on clause in his deal.

The Swiss club had a 50% sell-on clause added to the deal. The fine details of the agreement complicated the defender's transfer to Arsenal, but both parties have now settled, and Calafiori is North London bound. 

Fresh drama has emanated from the Calafiori move to Arsenal, as Roma have come knocking for their cut from the deal. However, their dispute is with neither Arsenal nor Bologna, but rather with Basel; hence, the deal will advance.

Before joining Basel, he was on the books of Roma, who added a 40% sell-on clause after selling him for €2.5 to the Swiss giants. 

Following the Italy International’s €4 million transfer to Bologna from Basel, Roma received €1.5 million pursuant to the sell-on clause. Basel are set to receive half of the transfer fee Arsenal will pay for Calafiori, and according to a report from Gazzetta Dello Sport, Roma believe they deserve a cut from that.

The Gialorossi’s lawyers argue that Basel failed to inform them they were set to make future money from the sale. They believe that their 40% sell-on clause is perpetual, provided Basel were making money in transfer fees from the young defender. This would mean they want around €8 million from the transfer fee.