The Italian defender, now at Arsenal, opens up to a return to Italy, to his favorite club: “I’m still a fan, at the time I was a die-hard. I can’t plan my entire career now but I would like to return”
Riccardo Calafiori and Roma, a love interrupted at the most beautiful moment and the desire to hug each other again. The defender, now playing for Arsenal, does not hide his desire to return to the city where he was born and raised (he was born a few steps from the Vatican). And in the team he always supported before an incomprehensible abandonment. “Yes, I would like to return to Roma – admits Calafiori in an interview with the Supernova podcast -. Obviously I can’t plan my entire career now, but I would like to return because I left it halfway. It all started very well: the goal (against Young Boys, ed.) and the possibility of playing more. Then for various reasons I was first on loan and then sold. I certainly didn’t do as I hoped for various reasons. I would like to return to celebrate under the Curva Sud in front of the fans”.
WHAT A MISTAKE
—
A clear message even if there are difficulties at the moment. The Italian defender was paid 45 million by Arsenal and has a contract until 2029, although it must be said that this season there is no shortage of difficulties: only 1600 minutes on the pitch between cups and the championship (here is our focus on the duel for the Premier League between Arsenal and City). Numbers conditioned by the many injuries that held him back: first a hip problem, then almost a month’s stop between December and January due to a muscle problem. Arteta respects him, but is ultimately preferring Hincapié to him. And to think that Roma sold him without too much thought to Basel for just 2.5 million and 40% of the future resale. This last aspect sparked a legal dispute – still ongoing – with the Swiss club at the time of the transfer to Arsenal. The fact is that the Giallorossi club has practically given away one of the jewels of its youth team and today it is eating its hands as happened in the past also with Frattesi, Scamacca or Politano.
The STORY
—
Calafiori, during the interview, tells how it went: “The first year everything was fine, I scored on my debut wearing the shirt of the team I love and after being told at 16 due to a serious injury that I couldn’t be a footballer. I’m still a Roma fan, before I was a die-hard. The only flaw is that it was during Covid, so there were no fans in the stadium otherwise I would have immediately gone to the Sud.” But then something goes wrong. “The transition between the Primavera and the first team is very fast, you don’t even realize it – continues Calafiori -. I start the first six months with Mourinho, at the beginning it goes well and I play as a starter providing some assists. After the 6-1 against Bodo Glimt I no longer played and I wanted to have more space. I went to Genoa on loan, the situation was complicated and I only made 3 appearances, one of which as a starter. I did worse than before and I didn’t understand why. I never gave up, but the idea remained in my head. At that moment I was really down. Roma won the Conference League and the boys who played in my place did very well, so there was no more room for me. Then Roma sold me to Basel and at the beginning I wasn’t happy, but when I accepted the fact of having to take a step back I understood that it would be the right place for me.
THE TURNING POINT
—
But the turning point is around the corner and it’s called Bologna. After his experience at Basel, in fact, Riccardo explodes in Emilia and attracts the court of half of Europe. “My eyes are teary when I talk about Bologna. We’re not just talking about the footballing level, but the human level. What I experienced and what we experienced in Bologna is something incredible, but how can you say no to the Premier League?”. Riccardo certainly wouldn’t say no to Roma.
© ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
