Mandatory Credit: Photo by Spada/LaPresse/Shutterstock (15214507ci) Italy's Riccardo Calafiori during the Uefa Nations League soccer match between Italy and Germany at the San Siro Stadium in Milan, north Italy - Thursday , Mach 20 , 2025 . Sport - Soccer . Italy vs Germany - Uefa Nations League, Milan - 20 Mar 2025
Arsenal are bracing themselves for worrying news on the status of Riccardo Calafiori(Credits: Spada/LaPresse/Shutterstock)
Riccardo Calafiori reported that his knee ‘felt strange’ after he sustained what looked to be a worrying looking injury playing for Italy last night.
The Arsenal defender slipped awkwardly while attempting to change direction in stoppage time of the Azzurri’s 2-1 Nations League play-off defeat against Germany.
Calafiori appeared to catch his left foot on the San Siro turf and effectively performed the splits before he collapsed to the ground in pain.
The 23-year-old received treatment on the pitch from Italy’s medical team and although he was able to leave the pitch without the aid of a stretcher, he was moving extremely gingerly.
‘He said that his knee feels strange, but cannot answer more precisely than that, so we’ll have to see,’ explained coach Luciano Spalletti in his press conference.
Get personalised updates on Arsenal everyday
Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro’s Football Newsletter.
Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link we’ll send you so we can get football news tailored to you.
As he left the stadium last night, the former Bologna player was asked about his condition but he was unable to shed any major light on the situation, briefly saying ‘I still don’t know.’
Italy play the return leg against Germany in Dortmund on Sunday evening but are almost certain to be without Calafiori who is likely to return to his club for further assessments.
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Spada/LaPresse/Shutterstock (15214507cb) Italy's Riccardo Calafiori during the Uefa Nations League soccer match between Italy and Germany at the San Siro Stadium in Milan, north Italy - Thursday , Mach 20 , 2025 . Sport - Soccer . Italy vs Germany - Uefa Nations League, Milan - 20 Mar 2025
Riccardo Calafiori went down in stoppage time (Credits: Spada/LaPresse/Shutterstock)
Soccer Football - Nations League - Quarter Final - First Leg - Italy v Germany - San Siro, Milan, Italy - March 20, 2025 Italy's Riccardo Calafiori walks off the pitch after sustaining an injury REUTERS/Claudia Greco
Riccardo Calafiori was able to leave the pitch without the aid of a stretcher (Credits: Reuters)
Losing a player of Calafiori’s versatility at this point of the season would represent a significant blow for Mikel Arteta, not to mention the player himself.
Calafiori has endeared himself to the Arsenal faithful during his first campaign with the club which has already been interrupted by several injury setbacks.
More to follow…
MORE: Man Utd sent Jarrad Branthwaite transfer message as Everton asking price revealed
MORE: Martin Odegaard names former Real Madrid teammate he’d love Arsenal to sign
MORE: Gus Poyet tells Arsenal to sign £30m Liverpool target to solve their ‘missing link’