Cristian Volpato, the 22-year-old footballer, has officially pledged his international allegiance to Australia, ending years of speculation and a significant decision that weighed heavily on his mind. The AS Roma attacker, who was at the center of an international tug-of-war between Australia and Italy, has accepted a place in Socceroos coach Tony Popovic’s 26-man squad for the upcoming World Cup.

A Heartfelt Decision

In his first public comments since making the choice, Volpato described the decision as deeply personal. “Something in my heart just said, ‘I think it’s time to come home’,” he stated. He acknowledged the complexity of his situation, recognizing that many Australians with diverse heritage face similar choices. “Obviously, everyone knows I’m Italian and I’m Australian, so it’s actually been a big decision that’s always been on my head 24-7 for quite a while,” Volpato explained.

He elaborated on the pressure to choose one nation over the other, emphasizing that many Australians navigate dual identities. “It’s really hard because it’s like, people want you to choose something, one or the other, but at the end of the day, a lot of Australians were brought up being both – being something else and Australian. You don’t want to choose one or the other,” he said. The embrace from his new teammates and the opportunity to speak English in a professional setting solidified his feelings. “Obviously, I do feel Australian, so it felt really good coming here and being brought in by the boys and speaking English.”

Past Dilemmas and Future Aspirations

Volpato’s journey to this decision has been complex. After moving to Italy and being cut from Australian academies, he quickly gained attention from the Italian national federation. He represented Italy at junior levels and had openly expressed aspirations to play for their senior team. Despite numerous approaches from Football Australia over the years, he consistently opted for Italy. Notably, he even declined a guaranteed World Cup spot in 2022 when former Socceroos coach Graham Arnold attempted to persuade him.

Earlier this year, coach Tony Popovic visited Volpato at his club, Sassuolo, to discuss his international future. However, early indications suggested Volpato was still leaning towards Italy, telling Italian journalists he was “waiting for Italy.” This made his eventual move to join the Socceroos in California a significant surprise.

A New Comfort Zone

Volpato explained his hesitation in the past. “He doesn’t want to beg you to come,” Volpato said of Popovic’s approach. “I wanted it. Maybe when I was 18, maybe I was a bit too young, and maybe I was a bit too scared to make the change straight away – so maybe I was in my comfort zone a bit playing for Italy.”

His excitement upon flying to Los Angeles was palpable, to the point of being unable to sleep. Since joining the squad, Volpato has impressed in training, bringing a distinct dynamic to the final third with his height, strong left foot, and creative flair. He has been “shocked” by the high level of his new teammates, the intensity of training sessions, the overall professionalism of the Australian setup, and the coaching acumen of Tony Popovic.

Belief in the Squad

“He’s a real coach,” Volpato remarked about Popovic. “I’ve been learning from him from the past couple days and I’m really shocked about, like, how good he is.” Despite external perceptions, Volpato expressed strong confidence in the Socceroos’ potential. “Obviously people are writing us off a lot because we’re Australia, but I believe in the group, I believe in the coach, I think we’ve got a really good team, so hopefully we can shock a lot of people.”

The Influence of Circati

Volpato also highlighted the role of Socceroo teammate Alessandro Circati, a Serie A rival at Parma, in his decision. Circati, like Volpato, is a son of Italian migrants and had previously navigated a similar international choice. They even played together in the Italy Under-20 team. “We actually met in the under-20s Italy team. Two Aussies in the same room,” Volpato recalled.

Circati’s ongoing support proved invaluable. “It was good to settle in with another Aussie and then from there, we’ve just been in contact, always talking. He’s a really good guy, really good defender,” Volpato said. Circati continued to influence Volpato even during their recent Serie A encounters. “He’s helped me settle in, helping me with off the pitch, where to go, what to wear, just always be on time and all this. You need someone like that.”