Italy have officially confirmed that defender Riccardo Calafiori has departed the national team’s training camp and returned to Arsenal to continue his recovery from a hip injury.
Arsenal defender Riccardo Calafiori has withdrawn from Italy’s squad after failing to overcome a hip problem sustained during international duty. The 23-year-old missed Italy’s 2–0 victory over Moldova in Thursday’s World Cup qualifier and was initially expected to be available for the decisive clash against Norway on Sunday.
Head coach Gennaro Gattuso revealed that despite Calafiori’s determination to feature, the medical staff advised against risking further damage. “He tried to make himself available, but it would not be fair to him or to Arsenal,” Gattuso explained, praising the player’s professionalism and commitment during his time in camp.
Calafiori has now returned to London Colney, where Arsenal’s medical team will conduct further assessments ahead of the resumption of domestic football. The versatile defender has been a key figure for Mikel Arteta’s side this season, starting every Premier League match following an injury-hit campaign last year.
His absence comes at a crucial juncture for Arsenal, who face a demanding run of fixtures against Tottenham Hotspur, Bayern Munich, and Chelsea in the coming weeks. While the severity of the injury is not believed to be long-term, the Gunners will be eager to ensure Calafiori’s fitness is managed carefully to avoid setbacks.
No comments:
Post a Comment