Arsenal Riccardo Calafiori thanks Italy legend Bonucci after header

Arsenal defender Riccardo Calafiori celebrated an emotional evening in Bologna on Monday when he headed Italy’s second goal in a 3‑1 victory over Turkey, his first international strike. The 24‑year‑old came off the bench to put the Azzurri ahead for the second time.

Scamacca’s early lead

Former West Ham striker Gianluca Scamacca gave Italy the opening goal in Bologna. Aral Simsir levelled for Turkey before Calafiori’s header restored the lead. Young forward Pio Esposito later added his seventh international goal to seal the win.

Calafiori said the towering header owed much to 121‑cap Italy legend Leonardo Bonucci, now on Roberto Mancini’s coaching staff. “Bonucci told me to stay back, then at the last second said ‘actually you go and Michael Kayode stay behind’,” the Arsenal man recalled, laughing.

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He added a light‑hearted anecdote about sunbathing with Scamacca, noting, “I told him he would score and it went well for both of us.” The defender described the night as “very emotional”, thanking the city and fans for the support that made his debut memorable.

Italy’s mixed break

Mancini’s side completed a busy international spell that saw Italy beat Turkey both home and away, draw with France and lose to Belgium. He made nine changes from the France draw, acknowledging inevitable fatigue but praising the squad’s resilience.

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Calafiori believes the team has already improved since the Belgium loss and expects further progress when Italy face Belgium and France again in November. “We have improved, but there is still a lot to do,” he said, urging the side to seize the remaining matches.