After playing a few minutes against Turkey and starting against Bosnia in the warm-up games before this Eurocup, Riccardo Calafiori experienced his first official start with Italy in the debut against Dortmund, marking his rise from the depths. At 22 years old, Calafiori knows what it’s like to bounce back from a tough blow and wait for a second or even a third chance.
His promising career as a central defender is starting to shed the label of just being a promising talent, and soon he will likely take the final step towards the elite when negotiations between Bologna, his current club, and Juventus are finalized. Calafiori had become one of the most promising defenders in Roma’s youth team at the age of 16, but a serious knee injury during a Youth League match in 2018 put his career at risk.
Despite the setback, Calafiori returned to the field over a year later in 2019 with Roma’s first team. He made his debut in the Europa League in 2020 and played several games under Jose Mourinho in the 2021-22 season. However, Mourinho eventually decided to let him go. Calafiori was first loaned to Genoa in the winter of 2022, where he faced some physical problems that limited his playing time. Later that summer, Roma sold him to Swiss club Basel for around two million euros for fifty percent of his rights.
After shining in the Swiss league, Bologna made a bet on Calafiori and paid double the amount, four million euros, to acquire him in July 2023. This move made Roma regret letting go of their promising defender for such a low price. A year later, Calafiori’s fears were confirmed as he became an international player and was called up for the Eurocup thanks to his stellar performance with Bologna, helping the team qualify for the Champions League.
Even former Roma coach Spalletti used Calafiori to respond to Mourinho’s recent comments about Italy lacking talent to win the Eurocup. Calafiori proved his worth in a nearly perfect game against Albania, despite a slight mistake in the final play against Rey Manaj. He is living up to the praise he has received and is finally getting his revenge with the help of his current coach, Luciano.
Calafiori’s journey from injury setbacks to international success is a testament to his resilience and determination. His story serves as an inspiration to young players facing challenges in their careers. It shows that with hard work and perseverance, anything is possible in the world of football. Calafiori’s rise to prominence is a reminder that talent and dedication can overcome even the toughest obstacles in life.