Gattuso’s Daily Pep Talk: Calafiiori Reveals Coach Calls Obama-Level Attention Ahead of World Cup Playoff

Behind the scenes with the Azzurri

The Italian coach is determined to keep the Azzurri's high spirits alive as the World Cup dream nears, and he's using personal touches to keep the squad united.

Arsenal defender Riccardo Calafiiori revealed that Italy's coach Gennaro Gattuso has been calling him more often than his own mother over the past four months. He says the messages are frequent but friendly, part of a hands-on approach aimed at steadying the young group.

The growing attention comes as Italy nears a decisive World Cup playoff against Northern Ireland, and as the team trials new cohesion after November's fixtures. Calafiiori also noted that the timing matters, with the playoff looming and the squad trying to lock in routines.

Gattuso has crisscrossed Italy and even traveled abroad for dinners with players, hoping to preserve squad unity and the winning mentality that carried the Azzurri to global glory.

London dinner and the family of veterans

Calafiiori says the London dinner was attended by former stars like Gianluigi Buffon and Leonardo Bonucci, with the group swapping stories about football careers and shared moments from the national team.

Calafiiori, who can play left-back or center-back, helped Bologna reach the Champions League before joining Arsenal in 2024, and he credits the support network around him for his rapid rise. "Going to the World Cup is a childhood dream," he said. "I can hardly wait to play Northern Ireland. We must treat this as a normal tie, even though the stakes feel enormous."

Italy's path to the tournament also depends on beating Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina away next week, in addition to the home match in Bergamo. The coach's message, Calafiiori said, is simple: stay focused, play with heart, and trust the system.

Punchline: If Gattuso's calls counted as goals, Calafiiori would be world champion with a phone plan.

Punchline: At this rate, mom will start sending recruitment messages to the national team—talk about a family business!