Riccardo Calafiori scored his first goal for Italy in a 3-1 win over Turkey on Monday and has given a ‘special mention’ to an iconic defender for his contribution.
The 24-year-old came off the bench in Bologna and produced a brilliant header from a free-kick to score Italy’s second of the game and put them ahead for the second time.
Former West Ham striker Gianluca Scamacca had put the home side ahead before Aral Simsir equalised for the visitors.
Calafiori scored on a ground he used to call home, before 21-year-old Pio Esposito scored his seventh goal for his country to secure the win.
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It was a memorable night for the Arsenal star, who joined the Gunners from Bologna and made his Italy debut at the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara, where he has now scored his first international goal.
The versatile defender says 121-cap Italy legend Leonardo Bonucci, now on Roberto Mancini’s coaching staff, is to credit for the towering header thanks to a key piece of advice.
‘This afternoon, I had told Scamacca when we were sunbathing that he would score, and it went well, for both of us!’ Calafiori told Sky Sport Italia.
‘It was all written in the stars, as I made my debut here, scored my first goal, I owe a lot to this city and these fans. I wanted to repay them, it was emotional. I hadn’t felt a game like this in my stomach for a long time, it really hit me, I was very emotional.’
He added: ‘We are trying to improve, as we can do better in every aspect. Actually, I have to confess that Bonucci told me initially to stay back, but at the last second he went, “actually you go and [Michael] Kayode stay behind.”
‘It was a smart intuition and so Bonucci deserves a special mention, especially as he’s quite egocentric and wants me to say that.’
Calafiori said that last line with a laugh as Mancini’s side complete a mixed international break, which saw them beat Turkey home and away, draw with France and lose to Belgium.
The defender feels Italy have improved already since that loss to Belgium at the start of this international break, but says there is more to come when Mancini’s team face them and France again in November.
‘Things have changed in just a few days, we had said in the first interview we couldn’t see the work develop in three days, but honestly not after two weeks either,’ he said.
‘There is still a lot to be done, we’ve improved, but can do much better, and then we’ll have our say in the last two matches.’
Mancini made nine changes for this match from the side that drew with France on Friday after a very busy international break.
‘Despite the changes, naturally there was also fatigue,’ he said. ‘We suffered at the start, but the lads did well to get it back on track, score again after the 1-1, so it was a good game as the fourth in such a short spell of time.
‘The only certainty was that we would lose some of that fluidity, it was fully expected and predicted. We also had two players on yellow cards and the referee seemed inclined to book them again, so I took them off.’
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