According to reports from Italy, Riccardo Calafiori has sustained an injury to the collateral ligament in his knee, forcing him to miss the Nations League quarter-final second leg against Germany, along with several upcoming Arsenal matches. What’s the latest on Riccardo Calafiori injury? Let’s find out.
Riccardo Calafiori Injury: When Did It Happen?
Despite picking up a knee injury in stoppage time, Riccardo Calafiori remained on the pitch for the full 90 minutes during Italy’s 2-1 defeat to Germany at the San Siro on Thursday night. The 22-year-old, who had been performing solidly in the game, suffered the injury after slipping and landing awkwardly on the pitch, appearing to twist his knee in an uncomfortable manner.
Calafiori’s injury occurred in the final moments of the match, but he continued to play through the discomfort, pushing on until the final whistle. Following the game, Italy’s head coach Luciano Spalletti confirmed that Calafiori had felt something was wrong with his knee.
The former Bologna centre-back was visibly limping as he made his way out of the mixed zone after the match, raising concerns about the extent of the injury. Early reports suggest that this could rule him out for a number of crucial fixtures, including the Nations League quarter-final second leg against Germany and several upcoming matches for Arsenal.
When Will Calafiori Return?
According to reports from Corriere dello Sport on Friday, Riccardo Calafiori has sustained a first to second-degree strain of the collateral ligament in his knee. This injury is expected to sideline the 22-year-old for approximately two to three weeks, ruling him out of action for both club and country.
The Italy national team has confirmed that Calafiori will return to Arsenal for further evaluation and treatment, where the medical staff will assess the full extent of the damage and begin his recovery.
As a result, Calafiori will not be available for Italy’s upcoming Nations League quarter-final second leg against Germany, which is set to take place in Dortmund on Sunday. The injury leaves Italy without one of their key defensive options as they look to turn around their 2-1 deficit from the first leg and secure a spot in the next stage of the competition.
Riccardo Calafiori’s injury is expected to keep him sidelined for several key matches, including Arsenal’s upcoming Premier League fixtures against Fulham and Everton after the international break.
With the strain to his knee’s collateral ligament, the 22-year-old is facing a recovery period of around two to three weeks, which means he will miss out on crucial domestic action for Mikel Arteta’s side.
In addition to the league matches, there are concerns that Calafiori could also miss the first leg of Arsenal’s highly anticipated Champions League quarter-final clash against Real Madrid.
This would be a significant blow to Arsenal’s defensive options, as the young Italian had been building momentum with his performances. The club will be hoping that Calafiori’s rehabilitation progresses smoothly, but at this stage, it looks likely that the defender will be unavailable for some important fixtures in the coming weeks.
