Riccardo Calafiori described his first Italy goal as “written in the stars” after helping his country beat Turkiye 3-1 in Bologna.
The Arsenal defender, who made his senior international debut at the Stadio Dall’Ara, scored in his 17th cap as Italy recovered from a sluggish display to finish their demanding run of four matches in 11 days with victory.
Italy made nine changes from the team that drew 1-1 away to France, and the reshuffled side struggled for fluency in the opening stages. Gianluca Scamacca put the hosts ahead before Aral Simsir deservedly levelled for Turkiye.
Substitutes Calafiori and Pio Esposito then made the difference, helping Italy secure a 3-1 win.
Calafiori spent last season with Bologna before moving to Arsenal, and said scoring in familiar surroundings carried particular significance.
“This afternoon, I had told Scamacca when we were sunbathing that he would score, and it went well, for both of us!” he told Sky Sport Italia.
He added: “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.”
The goal came from a set-piece. Nicolo Barella delivered a free-kick towards the far post, where Calafiori met it with a looping header.
Asked whether the move had been practised with Leonardo Bonucci, Calafiori said the former defender had played an important role in the decision.
“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 Kayode stay behind,” he said.
“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 added with a laugh.
Italy’s four-match sequence also included a 2-0 home defeat by Belgium, two wins against Turkiye and the 1-1 draw in France.
France came from behind to beat Belgium 4-1, leaving Italy second in Nations League Group A with seven points. Belgium are third on six points.
That represents a significant change from the opening 2-0 loss to Belgium, which had prompted a crisis in the Italian media.
“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,” Calafiori 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 gives us a sense of calm, lets us be free, but with a single idea for the team that we can all focus on.”
