Italy’s recent victory against France in the UEFA Nations League has been overshadowed by injury concerns for defender Riccardo Calafiori. The Arsenal newcomer, who was forced off during the match against France, has now missed the latest training session with the national team.
Sky Sport Italia report how Calafiori, who joined Arsenal from Bologna this summer, sustained a calf injury during Italy’s impressive 3-1 win over France at the Parc des Princes. The incident occurred when French winger Ousmane Dembele accidentally caught Calafiori on the back of the leg. Despite attempting to continue, the 22-year-old was eventually substituted in the 71st minute.
Initially, Italy’s manager Luciano Spalletti expressed optimism about Calafiori’s recovery, suggesting there was a chance he could be available for their upcoming match against Israel. However, the defender’s absence from training has raised doubts about his participation in the next fixture.
This development is particularly concerning for Arsenal, who are already dealing with several injury issues in their squad. With the North London derby against Tottenham Hotspur looming, manager Mikel Arteta will be anxiously awaiting updates on Calafiori’s condition.
The Italian national team’s medical staff will continue to assess Calafiori’s injury, but his availability for the Israel match on September 9th remains uncertain.
