The Italy international, who joined the Gunners from Bologna last summer, admitted he feels he has “unfinished business” in the Italian capital.
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Riccardo Calafiori hints at leaving Arsenal
Speaking on Alessandro Cattelan’s Supernova podcast (quoted by Calcio Mercato), the 23-year-old opened up about his emotional attachment to his boyhood club.
Calafiori rose through the ranks at Roma but saw his time there cut short after a series of loans and a permanent move to Basel in 2022.
He said: “I would love to return to Roma one day. Obviously we can’t plan our careers now, but yes, I think so.”
“Also because I left it half-finished; it all started very well: goals, I also got the chance to play a little more. Then I went out on loan for various reasons and then they sold me.”
Calafiori has fallen down Arsenal’s pecking order
The admission comes at a sensitive time for Calafiori at the Emirates.
Despite an ‘exceptional’ start to the 2025/2026 season, showing his versatility in Arteta’s upside-down system, the defender has recently found himself on the fringes of the starting XI.
The arrival of Piero Hincapie from Bayer Leverkusen has increased the competition for the left defensive spots.
In addition, a series of fitness setbacks, including a back injury in February, have disrupted Calafiori’s rhythm.
Although he has made 17 starts in the Premier League this season, he has been an unused substitute in recent high-profile matches against Manchester United and Tottenham.
With Arsenal currently leading the title race by five points, Arteta has favored the defensive solidity of Gabriel and William Saliba, often deploying Jurrien Timber or Hincapie in the hybrid roles that Calafiori was initially set to occupy.
With Arsenal looking to make Hincapie’s loan move permanent, the Italian defender could leave this summer.
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