Alessandro Circati debuts in style for the Socceroos against New Zealand

Talented defender Alessandro Circati didn’t disappoint in his long-awaited debut for the Socceroos.

The Socceroos celebrate their ‘Soccer Ashes’ win over New Zealand. Picture: Bryn Lennon/Getty Images

The wait for Alessandro Circati to decide if he wanted to play for the Socceroos was worth it, with the 20-year-old defender a standout on debut in Australia’s 2-0 win over New Zealand in London.

Born in Italy before moving to Perth at the age of one with his family, Circati’s football talent left him with a choice to make about whether he wanted to represent the Socceroos or the Azzurri.

After starring for Perth Glory’s youth team, he returned to Italy in 2021 to join second division club Parma.

He represented the Italian under-20 team last year but remained eligible for Australia.

Circati made the decision in June this year that he wanted to play for the Socceroos but since then had been an unused substitute in matches against Argentina, Mexico and England.

His long-awaited debut came on Wednesday morning against the All Whites, and he didn’t disappoint with a commanding display in the heart of Australia’s defence alongside Harry Souttar.

“This is my third camp with the boys, and my time’s come,” Circati said.

“I’m very happy we won and also happy for my first game for the Socceroos.

“I felt comfortable. I felt like I’d been playing with these boys for many years.”

Alessandro Circati (back row, second from right) made a memorable Socceroos debut in London. Picture: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

Socceroos coach Graham Arnold intentionally did made Circati wait for a few national team camps before giving him his debut.

“I spoke to him (Circati) on numerous occasions, but it had to be his decision,” Arnold said.

“That’s why I brought him into camp (but) didn’t play him early, (to) let him have a couple of camps with us.

“He had to settle in and learn what the culture was about and the way that we wanted to play.

“His gut had to tell him it was the right decision once he put that shirt on and the emblem on his heart.”

Arnold wasn’t surprised by Circati’s composure on debut, having seen him play for Parma against Sampdoria on a recent trip to Italy.

“You could see from the grandstand – he’s just so calm and mature,” the Socceroos coach said.

“It’s (about) giving some of these younger ones a try and a chance because that’s the only way they can grow.

“I believe so much in Australian kids. They’ve got the skill, they’ve got the physicality, they understand tactics … it’s in the brain they’ve got to understand that they belong.”

Circati was quick to discover that he indeed “belongs” at that level.

“(Arnold’s) message was just to play how you play with your club, and I felt like I’ve done exactly that,” he said.

Fellow defender Harry Souttar was also impressed with Circati in Australia’s “Soccer Ashes” win that was sealed by a second-half header from substitute Jackson Irvine after Mitch Duke had given Australia a first-half lead with a goal that included an assist from Circati.

“I thought he was first class,” Souttar said.

“Everything he did in terms of when he was on the ball, his movement off the ball covering me, which is always nice to have a defender that does that … (there’s) a really bright future for him.”