Italy head coach Roberto Mancini has explained the thinking behind his decision to leave Arsenal defender Riccardo Calafiori on the bench during Italy’s 4-1 victory over Türkiye on Monday night.
Calafiori had started Italy’s previous Nations League match against Belgium, but Mancini opted to make major changes to his starting XI for the trip to Bursa. The Arsenal defender remained an unused substitute as Italy produced a much-improved performance to secure a convincing victory.
The decision naturally attracted attention, particularly because Calafiori had been one of the players involved in the defensive unit that suffered during Italy’s 2-0 defeat to Belgium. However, Mancini’s selection was understood to be part of a wider rotation rather than a decision to single out the Arsenal star.
Italy made eight changes from the side that lost to Belgium, with Mancini using the match to give opportunities to other players in the squad. The manager had already indicated before the game that he wanted to see younger players in competitive action and learn more about the options available to him.
Speaking around the match, Mancini stressed the importance of giving different players opportunities as he continues to build a new Italy team. The manager had also pointed out that the squad had only completed limited training between the two fixtures because of the short turnaround.
Calafiori’s absence therefore appears to have been influenced by tactical rotation and squad management rather than a permanent change in his status with the national team.
The Arsenal defender had played at left-back against Belgium, a position he regularly occupies for his club. That match ended in disappointment for Italy, with Belgium winning 2-0 after defensive mistakes. Calafiori later admitted that the reaction from the Italian supporters hurt but insisted that the team needed to improve together.
Mancini subsequently changed his defensive line against Türkiye. Matteo Ruggeri started at left-back, while Alessandro Bastoni and Giorgio Scalvini featured centrally and Michael Kayode operated on the right. The changes paid off as Italy quickly took control of the contest.
Bastoni opened the scoring before Davide Frattesi and Kayode added further goals. Türkiye managed to pull one goal back, but Francesco Pio Esposito restored Italy’s three-goal advantage and completed a 4-1 victory.
The result also demonstrated why Mancini wanted to assess different players. His comments before the match showed that he was focused on developing a squad capable of competing over the long term rather than relying on a fixed group of starters.
For Calafiori, the most important point is that he remains part of Mancini’s plans. The defender was included in the national-team squad after being selected for the September fixtures, and there has been no indication that his place in the setup has been permanently threatened.
Instead, the decision to leave him on the bench against Türkiye can be viewed in the context of Mancini’s broader rotation strategy. After a disappointing result against Belgium, the manager wanted a reaction and used the second match to test several alternatives.
Calafiori will now return to club football with Arsenal, where he will look to maintain his fitness and form. His experience at international level remains valuable to Italy, particularly as Mancini continues to reshape the squad.
The 4-1 win over Türkiye provided Italy with a strong response after the Belgium defeat. While Calafiori did not feature, Mancini’s selection suggested that the defender remains part of a wider group of players competing for places as Italy’s new era continues.
