Calafio is the best left-back in the Premier League, but this is Italy’s new role in a 4-3-3 formation

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LONDON, UK – AUGUST 21: Arsenal’s Ricardo Calafiore during the 2026/27 Premier League match between Arsenal Football Club and Coventry City at the Emirates Stadium on August 21, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)


The injury to Federico Di Marco has caused a huge change in Riccardo Calafiore’s Italy career as he moves to left-back for only the second time since Arsenal.

The Azzurri will take part in the UEFA Nations League against Belgium, Türkiye and France, so new coach Roberto Mancini held his first training session at the Coverciano training camp today.

Mancini hinted that he wanted to adopt a 4-3-3 formation to break up the formation of Luciano Spalletti and Gennaro Gattuso, who mainly used a back three.

Calafiore changes Italy’s role

FLORENCE, ITALY - OCTOBER 8: Italy's Riccardo Calafiori trains during an Italian training session at Centro Tecnico Federale di Coverciano on October 8, 2024 in Florence, Italy. (Photo by Claudio Villa/Getty Images)
FLORENCE, ITALY – OCTOBER 8: Italy’s Riccardo Calafiori trains during the Centro Tecnico Federale di Coverciano Italy training session on October 8, 2024 in Florence, Italy. (Photo by Claudio Villa/Getty Images)

The coach originally planned to use Inter left-back Dimarco, but he withdrew from the squad today due to a knee injury, so Aston Villa’s Matteo Ruggieri was called up.

Calafiore was tested there todaywhich is a big change from his usual position in Italy, where he has been in the back three in all but his debut.

The exact position varied from the left to the middle or right of the trio, occasionally clashing with Alessandro Bastoni.

UDINE, ITALY - OCTOBER 14: Riccardo Calafiori of Italy watches the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying match between Italy and Israel at the Estadio Friuli on October 14, 2025 in Udine, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzani/Getty Images)
UDINE, ITALY – OCTOBER 14: Italy’s Riccardo Calafiori watches during the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying match between Italy and Israel at Estadio Friuli on October 14, 2025 in Udine, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzani/Getty Images)

The former Bologna defender’s only appearance as an Italian left-back in 14 international games came in a 0-0 friendly match against Turkey in June 2024, when he came on as a substitute for DiMarco.

This may seem remarkable to Arsenal fans or followers of the Premier League, as some experts have called Calafiore the “best left-back” in the Premier League so far this season.

LONDON, UK - MAY 2: Arsenal's Ricardo Calafiore celebrates after scoring a goal that was later ruled out for offside during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Fulham at the Emirates Stadium on May 2, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
LONDON, UK – MAY 2: Arsenal’s Ricardo Calafiore celebrates after scoring a goal that was later ruled out for offside during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Fulham at the Emirates Stadium on May 2, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

In 71 games for Arsenal, the Italian scored five goals and provided seven assists.

In the 1-1 match against Croatia in the 2024 European Cup group stage, the Italian team only sent 1 assist.


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