Why Bologna do not miss Calafiori and Zirkzee: Numbers explained | OneFootball

Vincenzo Italiano’s Bologna continue to impress in Serie A and are aiming for an historic second consecutive appearance in the Champions League, despite losing big players in Riccardo Calafiori, Alexis Saelemaekers and Joshua Zirkzee in the summer.

Here is why those players are not missed and how the Rossoblu have replaced them.

Why Bologna do not miss Calafiori, Zirkzee or Saelemaekers

Bologna finished the 2023-24 campaign in fifth place in Serie A, which was enough to qualify for the Champions League due to Italy’s additional spot in the tournament this season.

After 29 matches of the 2024-25 season, Bologna sit in fourth place with a slightly better points per game record than they had last year. (1.78 ppg in 2023-24, 1.79 ppg in 2024-25).

Bologna were one point better off than after 29 matches last season (54 points in 2023-24, 53 points in 2024-25). They had conceded fewer goals this time last year (25 in 2023-24, 34 in 2024-25), but had scored fewer themselves compared to this season (42 in 2023-24, 49 in 2024-25).

Bologna’s coach Vincenzo Italiano celebrates winning the UEFA Champions League soccer match between Bologna FC and Borussia Dortmund at Renato Dall’Ara stadium in Bologna, Italy, 21 January 2025. EPA-EFE/ELISABETTA BARACCHI

Goals aside, Bologna have almost managed to replicate their points tally and points per game average from this time last year, which is particularly impressive given the turnover in the off-season that saw Italiano replace Thiago Motta as head coach, while also losing key players in Calafiori, Saelemaekers and Zirkzee.

What’s even more impressive is the fact that Bologna have kept their consistency while also turning a significant profit on player sales over the last year.

Calafiori’s sale raised just shy of €50m, Zirkzee brought in €42.5m not including add-ons and bonuses. Meanwhile, Bologna’s most expensive incoming player this year has been Thijs Dallinga at a cost of €15m, while bargains have emerged in the form of Benja Dominguez and Jens Odgaard, who cost the club less than €9m combined.

Sam Beukema, Benja Dominguez and Dan Ndoye. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)

All told, Bologna raised well over €100m in player sales over the last year, and spent just over €50m themselves, while also managing to keep consistency in terms of points and results on the pitch.

Calafiori’s departure has made for a blossoming centre-back pairing of Jhon Lucumi and Sam Beukema. The latter could be one of the next players that Bologna turn a profit on, as he came in at a cost of €8m and is currently valued in the region of €35m amidst transfer links to the likes of Chelsea, Inter and Juventus.

Santiago Castro has been the star of the Rossoblu attack this season. The 20-year-old has eight goals and five assists in Serie A so far this term, and is also being linked with a big-money move away from the Dall’Ara, as Inter see him as the long-term heir to Lautaro Martinez’s throne.

Santiago Castro of Bologna celebrates with teammate Benjamin Dominguez after scoring his team’s fourth goal during the Coppa Italia match between Bologna FC and AC Monza at Renato Dall’Ara Stadium on December 03, 2024 in Bologna, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)

So, all in all, Bologna have managed to turn a profit, could do the same again this summer through a number of player sales, and the Rossoblu funds will only increase if there is another Champions League campaign on the horizon as well, which would be the club’s second in succession and only the second time they have been involved in the competition since the 1960s. All done without Calafiori and Zirkzee as well.