Arsenal’s Riccardo Calafiori has pulled out of the Italian national team camp before their World Cup qualifier against Norway.
Italy named the defender in their 27-man squad for the international break, which includes matches against Moldova and Norway.
Calafiori missed the match against Moldova due to a hip injury and trained alone for the first few days of the week.
He was not involved in Italy’s 2-0 victory over Moldova on Thursday. The Italian squad had hoped he could recover in time for the upcoming game against Norway on Sunday.
The announcement at Saturday’s pre-match conferences confirmed that Arsenal will bring Calafiori back ahead of schedule, despite him having stayed with the team for several days.
The decision was made after a careful assessment of his fitness and recovery.
Reports from Fabrizio Romano confirmed that Arsenal had been informed about the early return. The club does not anticipate any significant problems regarding Calafiori’s condition.
This news is reassuring for Arsenal as they prepare for the resumption of the Premier League.
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Arsenal currently sit at the top of the league and are keen to have all players fit after the international break.
The team will face local rivals Tottenham Hotspur at the Emirates Stadium in their next match. Calafiori’s early return could be necessary for Mikel Arteta as he looks to maintain his squad’s momentum.
The Italian defender has been showing promising form this season. His presence strengthens Arsenal’s defensive options and provides flexibility for Arteta in upcoming fixtures.
The club is closely monitoring his recovery to ensure he can make a full contribution to the league.
Arsenal’s medical team will continue to assess Calafiori and manage his training carefully. The aim is to prevent any setbacks and make sure he is ready for competitive action. With top-flight games approaching, having the squad in full health is a priority.