Cristian Volpato Reflects on A-League Rejection and Socceroos Switch

Cristian Volpato says he holds no animosity towards Australian club soccer, despite twice being rejected by A-League academies and having to prove himself in Italy.

The winger was released by Sydney FC and Western Sydney Wanderers' academies, before being granted a trial at AS Roma in Italy.

"Growing up in Australia and playing for the two best academies in Sydney, I got told by both of them that, basically, I'm not good enough to play," Volpato said.

"I just remember the car ride home with my dad. I was crying. He just says, 'We'll go to Italy now and we'll try it.'"

"My mum, she sold her shop. We leased our house. We left everything just to go for a trial.

"Thank God I made the trial, and my life changed from there.

"I feel like I have to give a lot as well to Italy because they gave me a second opportunity."

Volpato's ties to Italy go beyond his heritage. His former manager was legendary striker Francesco Totti, while his former coach was Fabio Grosso, who famously won the penalty that sent Australia out of the 2006 World Cup.

A rocky reception in Australia

Volpato's last-minute switch to the Socceroos caught many off-guard, and was greeted with scepticism by some fans who weren't convinced of his motives.

The winger's move was announced just days before the Australian squad for the World Cup was announced, with some fans speculating that he only made the switch after being left out of Italy's latest squad.

Volpato said he had seen the comments, and those made since he turned down the opportunity to play for the Socceroos at the 2022 World Cup.

"I'm human like everyone else," he said.

"Sometimes there's going to be stuff said about you. There are going to be good things, and there are going to be bad things.

"I feel like, as a footballer, you've just got to be resilient. And sometimes you can use it as fuel as well, and I like to use that."

Volpato said he only settled on his decision after Sassuolo, his club side, played Parma, Alessandro Circati's club, in late May.

"Something clicked. My heart. It said, 'Just go. I think you belong there,'" he said.

"I didn't want to come being 50-50. If I wanted to come, it's because I wanted to come and because I felt it was right.

"It's been a long time, but I'm grateful that I made my decision, and it came from me, and it came from my heart, and some things may take longer than others."

After he made his decision, Volpato faced a race to get approval and documentation, which included a dash to Australia.

"I had to get my passport because my passport had expired," he said.

"So thank God, and thank you to the people at the passport place who helped me get it quickly."