This article contains adult content that may be unsuitable for minors. Please confirm that you are 18 years or older to continue. This article contains images or details that some readers may find disturbing. Reader discretion is advised. Riccardo Calafiori, currently at Arsenal, recalled, in an interview with Sportweek, the most significant moments of his career, including his tumultuous departure from Roma and his relationship with José Mourinho. The Italian international revealed that his greatest satisfaction to date was buying a house for his parents. "When I was at Roma, I bought a house for my parents. In 23 years, I received more praise as a person than as a footballer: the credit goes to them, it seemed fair to give back," he stated. His relationship with Mourinho was a true rollercoaster. Calafiori remembered the initial excitement when the Portuguese coach posted a video analyzing his profile shortly after his signing. "It was crazy. I had turned off my phone for a few hours, and when I turned it back on, I had 300 notifications. People were sending me the video with my statistics published by Mourinho. I was very happy," he recounted. However, everything changed after a heavy 1-6 defeat against Bodo/Glimt, when Mourinho deemed him unfit for the team's level. "I probably disappointed him, and after Bodo/Glimt, everything changed. It had to be that way; it was a hard blow, but it helped me grow," admitted the defender. The next phase, at Genoa, was also not easy. Calafiori addressed his relationship with coach Blessin, who, according to Federico Marchetti, treated him poorly and called him an 'Italian bastard.' "I always tend to justify the behavior of others, and I certainly made mistakes. However, even after years, I don't have good feelings about him. Genoa was relegated, and we argued," he explained, adding that more playing time would not have changed the course of his career. After his experience at Genoa, the player felt lost. "My self-esteem was in tatters. I returned to Roma and was dismissed by message. I wondered if my fate would be in the lower divisions, but I remained confident: I never dreamed of being an average footballer; I wanted to work to get where I am now," he confessed. The decision to move to Basel proved crucial for relaunching his career. "Things didn't go well with Roma and Genoa, but I accepted it because I was really very young. The choice to restart at Basel was perfect," he considered. The environment in Switzerland provided him with the ideal context to evolve: "There was little to do in the city. It was the perfect setting to find continuity and mature quickly. Upon returning to Italy, I think I redeemed myself with Bologna." Currently in London, Calafiori has reunited with an old friend from the youth ranks at Roma, Bove, who plays for Watford. "We live in the same building. The training centers of Arsenal and Watford are adjacent, so Edo looked for a house in my area. I believe it's destiny," he shared.
Riccardo Calafiori Arsenal remains central to this story.
Riccardo Calafiori Arsenal remains central to this story.
Read more in Serie A news. and related tags: Riccardo Calafiori, Arsenal.