Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
Alessandro Circati always knew close friend Cristian Volpato would one day join him in turning his back on Italy to play for the Socceroos.
And captain Mat Ryan is adamant Volpato will be welcomed wholeheartedly into the Socceroos’ World Cup plans.
Sassuolo winger Volpato knocked back Graham Arnold’s pitch to include him in the 2022 World Cup squad and in March said he was waiting for a call-up from Italy’s senior team.
That changed on Friday when Football Australia announced Sydney-born and raised Volpato had switched allegiance to Australia, and he is expected to be in Tony Popovic’s squad announced on Monday AEST.
“It’s good to have Cristian in camp. It’s been a long time coming,” fellow former Italy youth international Circati said.
“Obviously, the conversations between me and him stay between me and him. But deep down, I knew he was going to come – just didn’t know when.”
Volpato appears a natural replacement for injured dynamo Riley McGree.
“He’s naturally a winger, he can play in the inside pockets, one-v-one,” Circati said.
“He’s a left footer, likes to take a player on, isn’t afraid to make a mistake and as a defender, really puts you in your place – and it’s not easy to defend the player constantly going one-v-one with you.”
Ryan only met Volpato for the first time at the pre-game meal before Saturday’s 1-0 friendly loss to Mexico in Los Angeles.
Volpato, 22, didn’t feature in the game as he only arrived in camp on match morning after travelling to Sydney to sort his passport.
“I let him know straight away that at least the reward of that is the potential of being in the World Cup,” Ryan said.
“So the prize, it triumphs any type of adversity and whatever in getting here.
“We want to be the strongest team we can, we obviously welcome him in here and we’re going to try and help him be the best that he can be and I’m sure he can embrace all that we’ve got here as an environment.”
Volpato’s inclusion has been contentious given his long-standing commitment to Italy – who didn’t make the World Cup – and that he wasn’t involved in Australia’s qualification.
Ryan wouldn’t speak on behalf of his teammates but added: “But from my point of view, personally, who am I to say who deserves to be here or not?
“We all make decisions based on circumstances in our life and whatnot, and I don’t know the details of his story. At the end of the day, I can’t control what he decides or what he does.
“We’ve had other boys that have gone the other way. We’ve had other boys – there’s some nice unique Australian accents in Martin Boyle and Harry Souttar.
“At the end of the day if everyone’s in here, they’re an Aussie and that’s the case, and we’ll move forward.”
