From AC Milan captain to a sudden departure in Greece
In short: After eighteen years at one of football's most iconic clubs, Davide Calabria's career took a dramatic turn. A journey that began with a promising debut in 2015 ended in a whirlwind of captaincy changes, coaching conflicts, and an unexpected move to the Greek Super League.
Davide Calabria's tenure at AC Milan was defined by longevity and a sudden rise to leadership. Born on 6 December 1996, the Italian defender first appeared on the senior team bench for an away match against Lazio on 25 January 2015. He officially entered Serie A action later that year, on 30 May, during a 3–1 win over Atalanta. Calabria assumed captaincy after Alessio Romagnoli left when the 2022–23 campaign began.
However, the latter part of his Milan career was marked by significant instability. During the 2024–25 season, Calabria faced intense scrutiny following the arrival of Emerson Royal. His relationship with management became increasingly volatile; after facing difficulties with head coach Paulo Fonseca—who was dismissed on 29 December 2024—Calabria was involved in a near-physical altercation with new coach Sérgio Conceição after kicking a bottle that struck the manager. This period of friction culminated on 11 January 2025, when he was stripped of his captaincy in favor of Mike Maignan.
The end of his long Milanese chapter arrived quickly. On 1 February 2025, Calabria joined Bologna on loan for the remainder of the season. Having secured one Scudetto and two Supercoppa Italiana titles during his nearly two-decade stay, he eventually sought a new challenge abroad. On 18 August 2025, he signed a three-year deal as a free agent with the Greek club Panathinaikos, marking a significant shift from the heights of Italian football leadership to the Super League Greece.
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