By Sport Dokita
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Riccardo Calafiori was only 6 years old when he was scouted by Roma because of his exceptional ability and physique.
He was nicknamed “Ruspa” which means “The Bulldozer” by his father because of his playing style at the age of 9 joined the Roma Academy and at the age of 16 signed his first professional contract with Roma.
Just when he thought he had achieved his dream, it turned into a freaking nightmare!!!!
“DON’T STOP DREAMING BECAUSE YOU HAD A NIGHTMARE”
In October 2018, after he had just won the Italian Youth Cup with the Roma Under-17s, they were to face Viktoria Pozen who was visiting Rome for the UEFA Youth League match.
The match was evenly poised at 3-3 late in the second half, Calafiori was with the ball when he was tackled by a Viktoria Pozen player with a high boot on his knee immediately injuring him, leaving him in severe pain!!!
He suffered what was termed, a “Once In A Decade” injury and had to be stretched out. An injury that had first-team Roma players in shock!!!
“PAIN IS INEVITABLE, SUFFERING IS OPTIONAL”
His dream of playing was over as his best chance was being able to get back on his feet and walk.
He suffered a COMPLETE TEAR of ALL the ligaments in his knee. He tore his ACL, PCL, MCL, and LCL, and everything was torn.
Dzeko held up his jersey when he scored a hat-trick against the Viktoria senior team, his idol De Rossi came to visit him in the hospital, and his teammates too.
AS Roma wanted to have his surgery done in Italy but his agent, late Super agent Mino Raiola refused, insisting on him going to the United States.
Why?
“WHEN THE WHY IS CLEAR, THE HOW IS EASY”
Mino Raiola wanted the surgery to be done by his trusted friend, Dr. Freddie Fu who had successfully operated on Raiola’s other players such as Ibrahimovic.
After a lengthy battle with Roma, Raiola had his way and Calafiori was flown to the US with his left leg three times the size of the right one.
The doctor told him after the surgery, “You don’t have to come back as soon as possible but you must come back the best way possible.”
“DON’T ALWAYS BE IN A RUSH”
It took him almost 2 years to return to football after such a horrible injury but he found game time difficult to get and after Mourihno signed Matias Vina for the left-back position Calafiori was surplus to requirements.
He was sent on loan to Genoa on loan and he made only 3 appearances for the team when Basel came calling, AS Roma sold him for €2.6Million and that’s where his story changed.
The manager changed Calafiori’s position from left back to the central defense and that was where he flourished the most.
“CHANGE IS NOT AN EVENT, IT’S A PROCESS”
He made 34 tackles, and 36 interceptions in 24 matches and this brought Bologna and Thiago Motta to his doorstep offering him a route back home.
They paid Basel €4M and signed the defender with Motta playing him as a Central Defender and he flourished becoming one of the best central defenders in the Serie A earning him a call-up to the Italian national team.
In the Euros, he became the face of the Italian national team which further convinced Premier Club giants Arsenal to splash the cash on the young defender.
“EVERYTHING WORKS OUT IN THE END”