Il Corriere dello Sport hails Riccardo Calafiori as one of Italy’s new leaders after convincing performances at EURO 2024 and a summer move to Arsenal.

Calafiori is expected to start in a three-man defence for Italy against France on Friday, and despite his lack of international experience, the ex-Bologna star is already being considered a leader for the Azzurri.

Thursday’s print edition of Il Corriere dello Sport, on page 26, highlights how Calafiori’s status at Coverciano has rapidly changed as the 22-year-old made his Italy national team debut just days before the start of the Euros last summer and impressed fans and pundits alike during the tournament.

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He made three appearances at the Euros, and although he scored an own goal in a 1-0 defeat to Spain, he provided an assist for Mattia Zaccagni’s late equaliser against Croatia which saw the Azzurri qualify for the knockout stages.

Calafiori served a one-match suspension against Switzerland in the round of 16.

He joined Arsenal for €50m after lengthy negotiations between the Gunners and Bologna, and Il Corriere dello Sport notes that Calafiori has already become an Italian ‘senatore’ – leader, in other words – after such an impressive summer.