ROME — Arsenal defender Riccardo Calafiori shared that Italy‘s coach Gennaro Gattuso has been in constant contact with him over the last four months, even more than his own mother.
This highlights the level of commitment Gattuso has shown to his players since Italy’s last match in November leading up to Thursday’s World Cup playoff against Northern Ireland.
As the four-time champions aim to avoid missing a third consecutive World Cup, Gattuso took it upon himself to travel around Italy and beyond, hosting dinners with his players to foster team cohesion.
“In the past few months, he’s contacted me even more than my mom,” Calafiori remarked Tuesday at Italy’s training base in Coverciano, Florence.
“During the month I was sidelined due to a muscle injury from late December to late January, he would call me frequently. Those dinners were fantastic; they felt just like sharing a meal with friends,” Calafiori continued.
In addition to Gattuso, notable figures including Italy’s delegation chief Gianluigi Buffon and assistant coach Leonardo Bonucci were present at the gathering in London.
“We exchanged plenty of soccer stories since the three of them have countless experiences to share,” Calafiori added.
The versatile 23-year-old, who can play both left-back and center-back, was instrumental in helping Bologna secure a Champions League spot before his transfer to Arsenal in 2024.
He now turns his focus to minimizing Northern Ireland’s set-piece threats, having recovered from a minor injury sustained while playing for Arsenal last Sunday.
“We have to stay vigilant, as they can pose a threat. Set pieces can be game-changers, and the divides between teams are getting slimmer in modern football,” Calafiori stated. “We also need to be alert to loose balls.”
While Calafiori has become a regular in the national team, he is still working on regaining his fitness after a month off following a strong start with Arsenal’s first team.
Currently, he faces stiff competition at Arsenal, with Piero Hincapié performing well in his absence and retaining his spot in the lineup.
Although Arsenal suffered a defeat against Manchester City in the English League Cup final, Calafiori still hopes to contribute to Arsenal’s Premier League campaign, where they hold a nine-point lead over City.
Yet, he has bigger ambitions in mind.
“Getting to the World Cup has been a lifelong dream of mine, and I am eagerly anticipating this match,” he expressed.
To advance, Italy needs to win against Northern Ireland at home in Bergamo on Thursday and then secure a victory against either Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina in an away match next week.
The Azzurri have faced elimination in the playoffs for the last two World Cups against Sweden and North Macedonia respectively.
“We must approach it as if it’s just another game. We understand the importance of the situation,” Calafiori concluded.
Information from The Associated Press was included in this report.