Arsenal defender Riccardo Calafiori expressed concerns over his knee after sustaining a potentially serious injury during Italy’s match last night.
Arsenal’s injury woes continue to mount as Riccardo Calafiori, their promising defender, sustained a worrying knee injury during Italy’s Nations League quarter-final clash against Germany. The incident occurred in the dying moments of the match, leaving both Arsenal and Italy anxiously awaiting updates on his condition.
The 22-year-old defender slipped awkwardly while attempting to change direction in the 92nd minute, resulting in an unnatural twist of his left knee. Calafiori immediately signaled for medical attention and was seen clutching his knee in discomfort. Although he managed to walk off the pitch unaided, his movements were noticeably ginger, raising concerns about the severity of the injury.
Italy’s head coach, Luciano Spalletti, addressed the situation in a post-match press conference, stating, “He said that his knee feels strange, but cannot answer more precisely than that, so we’ll have to see.” Calafiori himself admitted uncertainty about the extent of the damage, adding, “I still don’t know.”
This latest setback is particularly troubling given Calafiori’s history with knee injuries. At the age of 16, while at Roma, he suffered a devastating injury that ruptured all the ligaments in his left knee, casting doubts over his future in football. Despite overcoming that ordeal, the defender has endured multiple injury spells this season, missing significant game time for both club and country.
Arsenal, already grappling with a lengthy injury list that includes key players like Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Jesus, and Takehiro Tomiyasu, now face the prospect of losing another vital squad member. With crucial fixtures against Fulham in the Premier League and Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-finals looming, the timing of Calafiori’s injury could not be worse.
Arsenal’s medical staff will carry out extensive evaluations to ascertain the full extent of the injury while supporters and teammates support the young defender hoping for positive news, as Calafiori’s presence on the pitch has been instrumental in their campaign.
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