Arsenal Defender Calafiori Reveals Emotional Roma Return Wish
Arsenal star Riccardo Calafiori has openly expressed his desire to seal an emotional return to his boyhood club, Roma, in a revelation that coincides with manager Mikel Arteta's hints about making loanee Piero Hincapie's move permanent. The 23-year-old Italian defender, who joined the Gunners in 2024, finds himself down the pecking order after a December injury disrupted his season.
Arteta's Summer Transfer Plans Signal Defensive Shake-Up
Mikel Arteta has indicated that Arsenal intend to activate their £45 million option to sign Piero Hincapie permanently at the end of this season. This potential deal could have significant ripple effects within the squad, particularly for Calafiori, who has been usurped at left-back by Hincapie during his absence. Since returning from injury in late January, Calafiori has started only one Premier League match, highlighting the increased competition for places.
Arteta's comments came just as Calafiori made an appearance on the Italian podcast Supernova, where he discussed his future. When asked about the prospect of re-signing for Roma, where he spent 12 formative years before moving to Basel and later Bologna, Calafiori was quoted by Corriere dello Sport saying, "I'd like to return to Roma sooner or later. We can't plan it, of course, but yes, I want to return."
Calafiori's Unfinished Business at Roma
Calafiori's connection to Roma runs deep, as he was born in the Italian capital and broke into their first team at the age of 18. His early promise was overshadowed by a turbulent period under then-manager Jose Mourinho, following Roma's infamous 6-1 defeat to Bodo/Glimt. Reflecting on this, Calafiori explained, "I left something unfinished. It all started very well, with a goal. I played a lot for the first six months with Mourinho, even providing a few assists. Then came Bodo Glimt-Roma and from that moment on, I didn't play again."
After a loan spell at Genoa yielded only three appearances, Calafiori moved on, with Roma winning the Conference League in his absence. He later shone at Bologna and for Italy at Euro 2024, convincing Arsenal to pay £33.7 million for his services. Despite his current situation, Calafiori remains positive about his time at Arsenal, praising Arteta's demanding coaching style in a recent Sky Sports interview: "Obviously, he's a really demanding guy, but I like it. It's always better when your coach is asking you things... it's crazy how much effort he puts every time, every day."
As the summer transfer window approaches, Arsenal's defensive lineup could see notable changes, with Hincapie's potential permanent arrival and Calafiori's heartfelt wish adding layers of intrigue to the club's planning.
