Calafiori: ‘Coaches changed me, I would love to be a midfielder’ | OneFootball

Riccardo Calafiori explains how different coaches ‘changed’ him, the role he’d like to try next for Italy and Arsenal, plus why he ‘holds no grudges’ against Roma.

The versatile figure plays in central defence for the Azzurri and is preparing for the Nations League quarter-final against Germany, but generally is used as a left-back in the Premier League.

This kind of tactical versatility is what has endeared him to many different coaches and he is still learning a variety of roles.

“Thiago Motta first, then Luciano Spalletti and Mikel Arteta all changed me, in terms of my vision, the spaces to occupy, everything,” Calafiori told Rivista Undici magazine.

“I think that there are many defenders with my characteristics out there, who are probably even better, but I do a lot of work off the field and perhaps that makes the difference.”

While playing in central defence for Italy, he has a tendency to push forward and almost become an additional midfielder.

“There are many things I still don’t know how to do. I want to keep learning to play in as many different roles as possible. For now, I know two, but have always been passionate about midfielders and would love to learn how to play there.”

Calafiori: ‘Roma didn’t believe in me’

Riccardo Calafiori Italy EPA-EFE/DAVIDE CASENTINI

Calafiori’s career started at his hometown club Roma and had seemed to be in real doubt after a devastating injury in 2018.

Following a loan spell at Genoa, he was sold to FC Basel for €10.2m plus bonuses in 2022, moving on to Bologna a year later, then to Arsenal in 2024 for €45m plus add-ons.

“At the time, I did feel let down, but now I hold no grudges against Roma. It is not easy for a club to predict the career path of such a young player, and if they already have many others in that role, they have to make choices.

“They didn’t believe in me, but that’s fine, there’s no hard feelings. Obviously, Roma represent a big and important part of my life and career, so I still have only positive thoughts.”

Calafiori really made his mark in the Italy jersey when playing at EURO 2024, and even though his own goal proved decisive for a Spain 1-0 victory, he still saw it as a turning point in his development.

“That is the game I hold dearest in my heart and the one I will never forget. It will always be one of my greatest satisfactions, the way I was able to react after that own goal. I think I played even better than I had before.

“That was like the apex of a journey that had started a while back. The Riccardo of seven or eight months earlier would certainly not have reacted like that.”