Riccardo Calafiori has jokingly warned his Arsenal teammate Leandro Trossard to ‘watch out’ when Italy face Belgium on Thursday.
Calafiori arrived in north London from Bologna this summer in a deal worth £42m after an impressive spell in Serie A.
And while an injury on international duty last month delayed his first start for the Gunners, the full-back has since made himself undroppable after an impressive debut against Manchester City last month.
The 22-year-old has been a key part of Mikel Arteta’s side’s four-game winning run but the Italian now turns his focus back to international duty, with Gli Azzurri seeking to build on last month’s Nations League wins against France and Israel.
Thursday’s match against Belgium will see Calafiori face off against his fellow Gunners star Trossard, and the defender is confident he will get the better of his club teammate on this occasion.
‘I told him to watch out!’ Calafiori recalled when asked if he had spoken to Trossard before the match.
‘Joking aside, he is a great player and also a great friend, but I will still try to take home the three points.
‘It is going to be a complicated match, they have strong players, as do we. I prefer to focus on ourselves, because if we play the way we know how, then we can cause problems for any opponent.
‘We did so well in the last two games and don’t want to stop now.’
Having come through the academy and made his professional debut at Roma, Calafiori is looking forward to a return to the Stadio Olimpico but admitted his life has changed immeasurably since his last visit.
‘I am very happy to be playing at the Olimpico, I’d been waiting a long time for this moment,’ he added.
‘It is an extra reason to feel proud, seeing as my friends and family will be in the stands.
‘A lot has changed for my career and life over the last three or four months, without warning.
‘I do feel some extra responsibility, but I like that, because it means I am doing well and people expect a lot from me.’
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