Gattuso: Riccardo Calafiori has left Italy camp due to injury
Arsenal full-back Riccardo Calafiori has withdrawn from Italy’s international squad ahead of Sunday’s World Cup qualifying match against Norway, manager Gennaro Gattuso confirmed on Friday. Calafiori, who had been assessed in training, will return to his club due to injury, with Gattuso citing concerns for both the player’s fitness and Arsenal’s schedule.
“Calafiori left the training camp,” Gattuso told Sky Sports Italia. “We tried Calafiori, he had a few issues. I thank him for his commitment: he stayed here for a week, he could have played perhaps, but it wouldn’t have been fair to him or Arsenal. We’ll see who plays between [Gianluca] Mancini and [Alessandro] Buongiorno.”
The 20-year-old defender, known for his composure on the ball and versatility in both defensive and attacking phases, joins a list of key absentees for Arsenal. The Premier League leaders, who currently sit atop the table with 26 points, are already without Martin Ødegaard, Gabriel Martinelli, Victor Gyökeres, Noni Madueke, and Kai Havertz as they prepare for the first north London derby of the season against Tottenham Hotspur on November 23.
Italy face a significant challenge in their final World Cup qualifying fixture, needing a nine-goal margin to secure automatic qualification for the 2026 tournament. Calafiori’s absence reduces Gattuso’s defensive options, leaving the manager to decide between Gianluca Mancini and Alessandro Buongiorno to reinforce the backline.
For Calafiori, the decision to prioritize recovery reflects a broader trend of clubs carefully managing the fitness of key players during international breaks. For Arsenal, maintaining squad depth amid injury concerns will be critical as they target Premier League dominance and navigate a congested fixture schedule.