“It Was My Moment”: Circati relishes Parma debut
A-League youth product makes his mark in Italy
It was a debut to remember for Alessandro Circati as Parma cruised to an emphatic 4–0 win over Spal, a statement of faith from Ducali boss Beppe Iachini. “It was my moment and I couldn’t be any more grateful,” Circati told Italian football commentator, David Ferrini, post-match.
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 Gigi Buffon — a decade and a half after former Socceroos greats Mark Bresciano and Vince Grella graced the same stadium for the same club.
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“Being named in the squad is such a positive for me and today the Mister believed in me. 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 the 1999 UEFA Cup champions 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 the diminutive Giuseppe Rossi, the Parma Primavera product was impeccable in his first game of senior football, impressively shutting down the former Manchester United striker in the first half.
“Yeah look, marking a player like Rossi, I knew what sorta player he was and what his strengths and weaknesses were. He is an absolutely fantastic player who has had an exceptional football career all over the world”.
Spal’s attack could muster only three shots on goal and were caught out by Parma’s offside trap on five occasions. With 43 La Liga goals and 26 in Serie A, Rossi’s track record would normally have Serie B rearguards on the back foot.
“Look, 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 gave them happiness as we also play for them.”
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.
Preferring a 3–4–3 formation, Circati was deployed as the focal point in the centre of Gigi Buffon’s defence. At twenty-six years his junior, the youngster relished his opportunity to play in front of the former Italy star.
“Yeah, Gigi is a world-class footballer and also a top man. He is a very good teacher and is always helping me whenever needed, and is also very positive.”
Circati learned his trade from his father, Gianfranco, who also debuted as a defender in the Italian second division thirty years ago, later teaming up with current Melbourne Victory assistant coach, Fabrizio Cammarata, at Cagliari before relocating to Perth following his retirement from football in 2004.
Parma hosts Reggina on matchday 28 of Serie B looking for just their fourth win in seventeen outings with Circati hopeful of featuring once again at the Tardini.
Nine points adrift of the playoff spots, the pressure is on for the Gialloblu with eleven rounds left. Not that that seems to faze Circati:
“You must be mentally strong enough to surpass these obstacles and perform to your best”.
Photo permission from Alessandro Circati: https://www.instagram.com/alessandrocircati/
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Author: David Ferrini, Italian football commentator
