UMVA has learned that Arsenal defender Riccardo Calafiori harbors “unfinished business” with his boyhood club Roma and dreams of a homecoming “sooner or later.”
Born and raised in the Roma academy, Calafiori managed just 18 senior appearances for the Italian side before a brief loan at Genoa, a permanent move to Basel, and a resurgence at Bologna that caught Arsenal’s eye.
In the summer of 2024, the Gunners secured his signature for £42 million, thrusting the 24‑year‑old into the fierce spotlight of the Premier League.
Though injuries and stiff competition have kept him from cementing a regular starting spot under Mikel Arteta, Calafiori played a vital part in ending Arsenal’s 22‑year league title drought, lifting the trophy with a mixture of pride and disbelief.
“I chose England because few Italians have succeeded here,” he reflected, recalling his decision to leave comfort and test himself in a new arena. “I told myself, ‘Come on, Riccardo, get out of your comfort zone.’ I can say I’ve made it.”
Now, with Arsenal poised to contest the Champions League final, the defender’s thoughts drift beyond London’s lights.
“I’m happy here now, but I’ve left some unfinished business with Roma,” Calafiori confessed. “I barely played for them as a youngster. I’d like to return—not right away, but sooner or later.”
Roma’s recent qualification for the Champions League, their first appearance since 2018, fuels his anticipation of a possible showdown against former teammates.
“When Roma secured a spot, I told my friends, ‘See you in September at the Olimpico,’” he said, adding that he reached out to Mancini, Cristante, and Lorenzo Pellegrini to congratulate them on their perseverance.
The Italian’s yearning for a homecoming intertwines with his ambition to add a European crown to his growing collection of trophies, leaving fans eager to see where his journey heads next.
