Italian left-back Riccardo Calafiori enjoyed rest days in Rio de Janeiro after Italy missed out on the World Cup. The player was caught in a samba circle in the capital of Rio de Janeiro, and the videos quickly gained repercussions on social media.
In the images shared by visitors to the venue, the defender appears clapping, accompanying the songs and demonstrating familiarity with samba. At times, Calafiori also sings alongside the other participants in the circle, which caught the attention of Brazilian fans.
The athlete himself recorded part of the trip on his social networks. In posts on Instagram, Calafiori showed the sunrise in Rio de Janeiro and images of Christ the Redeemer, one of the city’s main postcards.
🇮🇹 Riccardo Calafiori, full-back for Arsenal and the Italian national team, was seen enjoying samba in Rio de Janeiro.
🎥 Reproduction
— Brasileirão goals ⚽️🇧🇷 (@golsdobrasil1)
Calafiori started the 1-1 draw against Bosnia and Herzegovina, a result that guaranteed the classification of the team led by Edin Dzeko and the tournament.
In the decisive match, the player acted as a defender and remained on the field until the final whistle. The elimination expanded the , which was once again left out of an edition of the World Cup.
Despite the , Calafiori ended the season on a high note in English football. Defending Arsenal, the Italian won the Premier League title and finished runner-up in the Champions League. Throughout the season, he played 41 matches, scored one goal and distributed three assists.
