News Focus
- Italy international refuses to watch 2026 World Cup following national team elimination
- Arsenal defender eyes Champions League clash against former club AS Roma in September
- Gunners chase European glory after securing first English title in 22 years
- Former Giallorossi academy graduate hints at possible Serie A return despite London happiness
Riccardo Calafiori has announced he will skip watching the upcoming World Cup finals after Italy failed to book their place at the tournament. The Arsenal centre-back admitted the qualification failure still hurts, but his full attention now sits on winning the Champions League with the North London side.
Speaking to Italian publications Tuttosport and Cronache Di Spogliatoio just days before the Gunners face Paris Saint-Germain in the European final, the 24-year-old sent a clear message to his childhood club. “See you at the Olimpico in September,” he said, pointing towards a potential group stage meeting between the two teams.
Calafiori has already lifted silverware this season, helping Arsenal secure their first domestic championship in over two decades. “The Premier League was a dream I held since I was young,” he explained. “When the final whistle went, we all exploded with joy on the pitch.”
The defender has collected 14 caps for the Azzurri since debuting under Luciano Spalletti in 2024. He revealed that Gennaro Gattuso was the first person he called the morning after securing the English crown, though he expressed mixed feelings about the former Milan star now managing Lazio.
Despite his current contentment at the Emirates Stadium, the Bologna academy product suggested he could move back to Italian football eventually. “I needed to leave my comfort zone, but nowhere compares to Italy,” he stated. “I have unfinished business there, particularly with Roma.”
Calafiori praised the Stadio Olimpico outfit for qualifying for Europe’s top competition after several years away. He remains focused on the immediate task of defeating PSG, aiming to crown his debut campaign in England with the club’s first Champions League trophy.