Calafiori: ‘Written in the stars first Italy goal in Bologna, thank you Bonucci’

BOLOGNA - OCTOBER 05: Riccardo Calafiori of Italy celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during the UEFA Nations League 2026/27 group phase match between Italy and Türkiye at Renato Dall'Ara Stadium on October 05, 2026 in Bologna. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Riccardo Calafiori feels it was ‘written in the stars’ his first Italy goal would be in Bologna, while he credits Leonardo Bonucci for the set play routine against Turkiye. ‘He’s egocentric!’

There were nine changes from the side that drew 1-1 in France, and that showed with a more sluggish and disjointed performance at the Stadio Dall’Ara in Bologna.

Gianluca Scamacca had opened the scoring, with Aral Simsir earning a more than deserved Turkish equaliser, but that’s when substitutes Riccardo Calafiori and Pio Esposito stepped up to bolster the final 3-1 result.

It was the Arsenal defender’s first ever goal for his country at senior level in his 17^th cap, although the vast majority of those have been at centre-back and not left-back.

Calafiori eternal bond with Bologna

“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.

Destiny really was on his side, because the defender really made his mark when playing for Bologna before the transfer to Arsenal, so was on familiar territory.

“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 was from a set play, Nicolò Barella pumping the free kick to the back post for Calafiori’s looping header. Did they work on that in training with Leonardo Bonucci?

“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,” revealed the defender.

“It was a smart intuition and so Bonucci deserves a special mention, especially as he’s quite egocentric and wants me to say that,” laughed Calafiori.

This run of four games in 11 days concludes therefore with a 2-0 home defeat to Belgium, two victories against Turkiye, plus a creditable 1-1 draw away to France.

“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.”

Check the Football Italia Player Ratings for Italy 3-1 Turkiye

France came back from a goal down to beat Belgium 4-1, so Italy go into second place in Nations League Group A on seven points, leaving Kevin De Bruyne’s side behind on six.

It feels a very far cry from the opening 2-0 home defeat to Belgium that had the Italian media in crisis mode.

“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,” concluded Calafiori.

“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.”