Calafiori: This has always been my dream

Riccardo Calafiori’s future will be in yellow and red.

Calafiori, 18, signed a new long-term contract with the club on Tuesday – one that commits him to the Giallorossi until at least the summer of 2025.

The deal completes a remarkable few months for the academy graduate, who made his first-team debut in August and scored his first goal for his boyhood club in November.

“I am delighted, it’s been my dream ever since I was child,” Calafiori said, immediately after signing the paperwork.

“It’s an important step, it was just that little thing missing to make me truly feel part of the first-team squad.

“Now I can say I am a member of the Roma first team, which seems almost unbelievable to me. It’s the greatest thing in the world.”

What does it mean to you?

“It means so much to me. Every kid who comes through the academy here, with a passion for this club and these colours, dreams of one day reaching this point. It looks like I’ve managed to achieve that – I’m not sure it’s really sunk in yet.”

You only made your debut at the end of last season – how have you found the transition from youth team to senior level?

“It was all a surprise. In August I had finished training with the Primavera, I was ready to go on holiday and instead they called me up for the game [against Juventus] – and in the end I made my debut.

“I picked up where I left off at the start of this season and with each training session I’ve felt more comfortable with the pace of Serie A.”

You are not the only young player who has broken through this season - do you feel there are more opportunities for younger players this term?

“I think this year there is a different feeling among the young players, especially considering that so many of my teammates are being called up to the first team squad and making appearances for the team. I think we have more confidence and we all feel more comfortable here.

“Paulo Fonseca has helped me a lot; I don’t have any fear when I’m playing for him – I can feel the faith he has in me.”

How does it feel to be a part of the team right now? What have you made of the start to the season?

“We are playing really well right now, it seems like we’ve found the right balance. Even in tough games we’ve been able to bring home three points. We are on a roll, we have some great players – players I used to play with on the PlayStation and now we train together!”

You have achieved one dream – what’s the next one?

“My dream is to win something with this club. I don’t like to talk too much but I think all my teammates have this target too. Winning something with Roma would be perfect for me, it would be a dream.”

Was it disappointing to score your first goal for the club without fans there to see it?

“I hope that when all this is over we will be able to go back to how it was before, with the stadium bouncing every game. We feel their absence, just like we know they miss watching us.”

You celebrated that goal by kissing the badge…

“It’s something I can’t help but do – especially in the moments of joy. I am not a striker, I don’t score that many goals, so when it does happen I have to show how happy I am! I hope it doesn’t come across to the fans as somehow excessive or exaggerated. I think I'm always going to have the urge to do it.”