At just 18, it was the biggest challenge possible for a Perth-born defender thrown into the deep end of Italian football.
But with the peerless voice of Gigi Buffon behind him to quell any nerves on his debut for Parma, Alessandro Circati took to Serie B flawlessly – able to celebrate a 4-0 win over Spal, and a clean sheet to boot.
Remarkably it was the former Perth Glory youth player’s first appearance in senior football, a statement of faith from Parma boss Beppe Iachini that was repaid in spades. “It was my moment and I couldn’t be any more grateful,” Circati told KEEPUP.
With the Crociati’s fading hopes for promotion hanging in the balance, Iachini entrusted the former Perth Glory youth player to lead the defence in front of Buffon – a decade and a half after former Socceroos greats Mark Bresciano and Vince Grella graced the same stadium for the same club.
“Being named in the squad is such a positive for me and today the [manager] believed in me,” Circati said. “He decided it was my moment and I couldn’t be more grateful. I’m through the roof, very happy and also very hungry for more.”
With Parma looking for options at the back, Circati formed part of a three-man backline that combined to keep successive clean sheets for just the first time this season.
Tasked with facing Giuseppe Rossi, the Parma Primavera product was impeccable, impressively shutting down the former Manchester United striker in the first half. Spal’s attack could muster only three shots on goal and were caught out by Parma’s offside trap on five occasions. Coming just weeks after Sydney-born teenager Cristian Volpato scored for Roma, it’s another promising sign for Australian football.
“Marking a player like Rossi, I knew what sort of player he was and what his strengths and weaknesses were,” Circati said. “He is an absolutely fantastic player who has had an exceptional football career all over the world.
“When I play it’s all about enjoying it at the end of the day. It’s a game of football obviously, there is some pressure at the moment, knowing the circumstances. But you must be mentally strong enough to surpass these obstacles and perform to your best.
“Whether he (Rossi) was playing or not it doesn’t change so much. The preparation is the same, the only thing that you may have to take into consideration is that he is a very experienced player who has been around for some time, who, technically, with the ball is outstanding.”
Courtesy of four brilliant goals by Adrian Bernabe, Franco Vazquez, Adrian Benedyczak and Gennaro Tutino, Parma dominated one of the division’s biggest clubs in front of a parochial home crowd at the Stadio Ennio Tardini.
“The fans are great, they were with us from start to finish and I hope we put on a show for them and made them happy as we play for them,” he said.
Circati learned his trade from his father, Gianfranco, who also debuted as a defender in the Italian second division 30 years ago. Later he teamed up with current Melbourne Victory assistant coach, Fabrizio Cammarata, at Cagliari and also made a handful of appearances for Perth Glory in the NSL.
No doubt paternal pride would have been strong at Alessandro’s debut. Tenacious in the defensive half and adept in decision making, the teenager belied his years, showcasing an extraordinary ability to read play while suppressing the impending threat of Spal’s Marco Mancosu and second-half substitute Lorenzo Colombo. And it certainly helped having one of Italy’s most decorated stars close by in Buffon.
“Yeah, Gigi is a world-class footballer and also a top man,” Circati said. “He is a very good teacher and is always helping me whenever needed, and is also very positive.”
