Gds: Calafiori’s Italy return to give Spalletti selection problem | OneFootball

Arsenal star Riccardo Calafiori is currently recovering from injury, and while his return will undoubtedly represent an added value to Italy, it could also pose coach Luciano Spalletti a selection problem since both Alessandro Bastoni and Alessandro Buongiorno have proved reliable options for the defensive trio.

Calafiori was an undisputed starter before suffering an injury with Arsenal, which kept him sidelined for the latest Nations League fixtures, making room for Napoli’s Buongiorno.

Riccardo Calafiori in Champions League action for Arsenal against Shakhtar Donetsk (picture via www.arsenal.com)

Calafiori, Buongiorno and Bastoni: who should stay out of Italy starting XI

Discussing the topic of Calafiori’s future return in a video, La Gazzetta dello Sport pointed out that one between Bastoni, Buongiorno and the Arsenal defender should ‘stay out’ of Italy’s starting XI, as they’re all left-footed and none of them could take Giovanni Di Lorenzo’s place as a right centre-back.

While Buongiorno struggled in the Azzurri’s 3-1 defeat against France, he’s been in impressive form recently and the newspaper made the point that he ‘can’t be touched’ as he’s proving to be the ‘best Italian defender’ in terms of marking skills this season.

Changing the tactical setup, and switching to a four-man defence, would expose Spalletti to the same problem he’s already faced at Euro 2024, when his attempts to get all his best players in the team resulted in an unorganised and disjointed side.

For this reason, La Gazzetta dello Sport claims that the coach’s best option would be to rotate his defenders according to Italy’s opponents, although Buongiorno is likely to maintain his spot due to a set of skills that make him a unique profile in the Azzurri’s rearguard.

Former Milan defender Alessandro Costacurta recently claimed that Napoli’s centre-back has the qualities to be a ‘likely successor’ to Giorgio Chiellini.

Italy finished second in their Nations League group, which was enough to secure a place in the quarter-finals, scheduled for March 2025.