Calafiori: Blessin called me an 'Italian bastard'; Mourinho dropped me by text

The Arsenal defender reflected on his time in Italy, recalling that Mourinho once posted a video of himself studying his profile and, months later after the 6-1 defeat to Bodo, called him inadequate. Calafiori said he had switched his phone off for a couple of hours and, when he turned it back on, found 300 notifications; he was initially delighted, then felt he had let the team down — a blow that ultimately helped him grow.

On loan at Genoa, he said manager Blessin treated him badly and, as Federico Marchetti told La Gazzetta, called him an "Italian bastard." Calafiori added that he tends to excuse other people’s behaviour and may have done something wrong, but he retains no positive feeling about that period.

Genoa were relegated and the pair had a falling out; he believes even more playing time there would not have changed his career. With his self‑esteem at rock bottom, he returned to Roma and found out via a text message that he had been dropped from the squad.

Italy, Genoa

riccardo calafiori, arsenal defender, jose mourinho, blessin, genoa, roma, federico marchetti, la gazzetta, 6-1 defeat, loan spell