Davide Calabria

Davide Calabria (born 6 December 1996) is an Italian professional footballer, who plays for Milan and the Italy national team as a full-back, mainly on the right side of the pitch.

Davide Calabria
Personal information
Full name Davide Calabria
Date of birth (1996-12-06) 6 December 1996
Place of birth Brescia, Italy
Height 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s) Right-back
Club information
Current team
 Milan
Number 2
Youth career
2006–2015 Milan
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015– Milan 112 (5)
National team‡
2013 Italy U17 9 (0)
2013 Italy U18 1 (0)
2014–2015 Italy U19 12 (1)
2015 Italy U20 2 (0)
2015–2019 Italy U21 19 (0)
2020– Italy 2 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 15:57, 7 February 2021 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 18 November 2020

Club career

Calabria has been with A.C. Milan since 2006, playing for the club's youth teams of different age groups up until Primavera (U-19). He received his first ever call-up to the senior team ahead of the away game against S.S. Lazio played on 25 January 2015; he, however, remained an unused substitute. He made his Serie A debut on 30 May 2015 against Atalanta, replacing Mattia De Sciglio at the 84th minute in a 1–3 away win.[1] On 15 July 2015 Calabria was officially promoted to the first team.[2][3] He made his first start in a 3–2 win over Palermo on 22 September, playing 49 minutes, and was highly praised for his performance.

Ahead of the 2017–18 season, Milan acquired Atalanta's Andrea Conti for nearly €25 million, viewing the player as the most likely starter on the right side of the team's defensive line; Calabria had been persuaded yet refused to join one of the lower-ranking Serie A teams on loan to increase his playing time. In September 2017, Conti injured his anterior cruciate ligament for the first time, and in March 2018 suffered a recurrence of the injury, effectively ending his season. The club ruled out the possibility of any further emergency signings, thus trusting Calabria as a long-term replacement for Conti in the right full-back position.[4] He completed the season with 30 appearances in all competitions and scored his debut goal in senior professional football on 25 February 2018 in the Serie A 2–0 away win against Roma.[5]

International career

Calabria made his debut for the Italy U21 on 13 October 2015, in a qualifying match against Republic of Ireland.

In June 2017, he was included in the Italy under-21 squad for the 2017 UEFA European Under-21 Championship by manager Luigi Di Biagio.[6] Italy were eliminated by Spain in the semi-finals on 27 June, following a 3–1 defeat.[7] Italy were eliminated in the semi-finals following a 3–1 defeat to Spain on 27 June.[8]

He was called up to the Italy senior squad by manager Roberto Mancini in November 2020.[9] He made his senior debut for Italy on 11 November, appearing as a substitute in a 4–0 friendly win against Estonia in Florence.[10][11][12]

Style of play

Calabria is a quick and modern full-back who likes to get forward and support his team's attacking moves. His strong overlapping offensive runs, crossing ability, and solid technique caused problems for Juventus in the 2016 Coppa Italia Final although it was he who did not chase Álvaro Morata down his flank to prevent the creation of a scoring opportunity.[13] Regarded as a promising young player, defensively, his positioning, decision-making, and tackling are commendable, and he has also drawn praise from pundits and former footballers for his maturity and personality in spite of his youth. Although he is not physically dominant, he is gifted with good pace and stamina, and can also recover to his defensive position quickly, which enables him to cover the flank effectively. A former midfielder in his youth, while he is mainly deployed as a right-back, he is a highly versatile player who is capable of playing in several positions, and is equally adept at left-back due to his ability with both feet, despite being naturally right-footed.[14][15]

Career statistics

Club
As of match played 7 February 2021.[16]
Club Season League Cup Europe Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Milan 2014–15 Serie A 1000——10
2015–16 6020——80
2016–17 12010——130
2017–18 211405[lower-alpha 1]0—301
2018–19 261204[lower-alpha 1]01[lower-alpha 2]0331
2019–20 25120——271
2020–21 2121040—262
Career total 1125120130101385

International
As of match played 18 November 2020.[16]
Italy
YearAppsGoals
202020
Total20

Notes
  1. All appearances in Europa League
  2. All appearances in Supercoppa Italiana

References
  1. "Atalanta vs. Milan 1 - 3". Soccerway. 30 May 2015. Retrieved 31 May 2015.
  2. Ferrazzi, Enrico (15 July 2015). "Tuttosport - Milan, Calabria promosso in prima squadra: completerà la batteria dei terzini" (in Italian). Milan News.
  3. Ferrazzi, Enrico (15 July 2015). "Calabria a MC: "E' un sogno essere in prima squadra, Mihajlovic ha una personalità incredibile. Lavoriamo duro per riportare il Milan in alto"" (in Italian). Milan News.
  4. https://www.agentianonimi.com/milan-conti-sostituti/
  5. Atkinson, Guy (25 February 2018). "Roma 0 AC Milan 2: Cutrone and Calabria secure superb win for Rossoneri". Goal.
  6. Football Italia staff (6 June 2017). "U21: Italy squad for Euros named". Football Italia. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
  7. James Horncastle (28 June 2017). "Italy fall to familiar foe Spain at U21 Euros but there is hope for the future". ESPN FC. Retrieved 24 October 2017.
  8. "Spain U21 3-1 Italy U21". BBC Sport. 27 June 2017. Retrieved 6 March 2019.
  9. "Mancini convoca anche Bastoni, Ferrari e Zaccagni. Alle 16 primo allenamento" (in Italian). www.figc.it. 9 November 2020. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  10. "A Grifo brace and goals from Bernardeschi and Orsolini secure a comfortable win against Estonia". www.figc.it. 11 November 2020. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  11. "Italy vs. Estonia - Football Match Report - November 11, 2020 - ESPN". ESPN.com. 11 November 2020. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  12. "Italy 4-0 Estonia: Grifo lights up experimental Azzurri". www.football-italia.net. 11 November 2020. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  13. Highlights, Finale, TIM Cup 2015/16. Serie A. 22 May 2016. Event occurs at 2:57.
  14. Newman, Blair (22 September 2016). "Davide Calabria Is Ready to Take Ignazio Abate's Spot at Right-Back for AC Milan". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
  15. Menicucci, Paolo (3 October 2015). "UEFA.com's weekly wonderkid: Davide Calabria". UEFA. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
  16. "Davide Calabria". Soccerway. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
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