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Cristian Volpato has shed light on the moment he left Australia for Italy as a heartbroken teenager as well as the interaction with a Socceroos teammates that led him to commit to the green and gold.
Speaking to reporters in a press conference for the first time this World Cup, the 22-year-old was hit with an array of questions about his decision to switch allegiances from Italy to Australia on the eve of the tournament.
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Volpato was the most controversial selection in Tony Popovic’s 26-man squad given he had rejected Graham Arnold four years earlier and had previously stated his desire to the represent the Azzurri.
The Sydney born and raised winger has justified Popovic’s decision to thrust him into the national squad, however.
Volpato impressed in an eye-catching half an hour off the bench against the USA before being Australia’s most dangerous player in the first half against Paraguay.
Reports of Volpato potentially going to this World Cup emerged earlier this year when Popovic and his assistant Paul Okon travelled to Italy to meet with him.
They attended a Sassuolo match, but it was a Serie A clash earlier in the season that was the tipping point for Volpato.
Even if he said he did not make his final call until the death knock.
“Basically a couple of days before (the squad was announced),” Volpato revealed.
“To be quite fair, it was actually after the game against Parma when we played against Circati.
“It was just something clicked and my heart said: just go, I think you belong there.
“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.”
“Well to be honest, it’s not been the last six months, it’s been four-and-a-half years,” Volpato added.
“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, some people are different, but with me, I felt it was time and I’m so happy I made the decision.”
When Popovic and Okon essentially came home from Italy empty-handed as Volpato was not named in Australia’s squad for the March international window, it appeared the saga might be over.
Volpato said he did not commit at the time because his focus was in the present rather than casting his mind forward to the World Cup.
He was not receiving the minutes he would like at Sassuolo as veteran Domenico Berardi, who is a club legend and won the Euros with Italy, was regularly chosen ahead of him.
Volpato even revealed to reporters that he explored a loan move to find more playing time and that what was occupied his mind earlier in the year.
“In that time period I was still thinking about my club football,” he explained.
“Obviously I haven’t gotten a lot of minutes or the minutes that I’ve liked. So I just felt like staying in my comfort zone in Italy, just trying to get as much minutes as I can. So I didn’t really think of making a change then.
“But then obviously, I just one day woke up literally and I just talked to my family.
“I just said, Mum, I want to play for Australia and my family’s been very supportive of me.
“I can just thank them and also the coaches and the people at Sassuolo who helped me as well.”
Many fans accused Volpato of only being interested in Australia once Italy, who he represented at youth level, failed to qualify for the World Cup.
Volpato’s Australian passport had even expired and he had to make a mad dash home to get a new one before travelling to the United States.
But he insists Italy’s shortcoming was not the catalyst for his decision.
“For me it was just ‘I want to play for Australia’,” he said.
“Because Italy could have called me to the World Cup… but I just chose I wanted to play for Australia. I felt like it was right. I felt like I can be myself and I can show myself here more.”
As for whether he was aware of the negativity towards him, the former Roma youngster said: “I’m human like everyone else, addicted to my phone like ninety per cent of people as well in the world”.
“Sometimes there’s going to be stuff said about you, there’s going to be good things, there’s going to be bad things, but I feel like as a footballer you have just got to be resilient,” he continued.
“Sometimes you can use it as fuel as well and I like to use that as well.”
Another thing Volpato uses for motivation is the fact as a teenager he was cut from both Sydney FC and Western Sydney Wanderers’ academies.
The snubbing from the A-League clubs made him look to the nation his grandparents migrated to Australia from – even if it meant a big gamble by his parents.
“Growing up in Australia and playing for the two best academies in Sydney, I got told from both of them that, basically I’m not good enough to play,” he recalled.
“I just felt like it was my time to…I’ve always wanted to go to Italy as a kid. So I think it came out perfectly to be honest, because then straight after, I just remember the car ride home with my dad, I was crying.
“And he just said: ‘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. So I feel like I have to give a lot (of thanks) as well to Italy because they gave me a second opportunity.
“From there, I also got picked for the Italian team first, so I just accepted and then that’s basically it.”
As the Socceroos prepare for their third ever World Cup knockout game, Volpato holds a fascinating link to the heartbreak of their first ever appearance beyond the group stage 20 years ago.
Growing up in an Italian family, he admitted he watched the Azzurri’s 1-0 win against Australia “probably like a hundred times”.
Volpato was in nappies as Australia’s hearts collectively broke when the referee point to the penalty spot in stoppage time, but that game has strong connection to his football journey.
Italy and Roma legend Francesco Totti was his agent when Volpato started out as a teenager.
While Fabio Grosso, who may or may not have divided, depending on your allegiance, to win that infamous penalty, coached him at Sassuolo.
“It’s crazy because my ex-agent was Totti who scored and then my coach is the one who won the penalty – so it’s a bit…you know what I mean?!” he said.
“I spoke to Grosso… he just told me just saying that he didn’t even know what he was doing, he felt a bit of contact, he went down…
“They’re also small details that can change a game and also we have to use that in our game as well – because small details can make a big, big difference.”
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Former Manchester United and Socceroos goalkeeper Mark Bosnich has shared his belief that Tony Popovic might have a selection surprise or two in store for Australia’s Round of 32 clash with Egypt.
Popovic made six changes to the starting line-up against Paraguay was widely praised as inclusions Lucas Herrington, Aziz Behich, Jackson Irvine, Connor Metcalfe, Nestory Irankunda and Cristian Volpato all impressed.
But Bosnich believes there may once again be a change to Australia’s starting front three.
“They got it absolutely spot on against Paraguay,” he said on SEN.
“Going into this game I think he’ll bring back Mo Toure to play up front, and I think he’ll move Nestory Irankunda a little bit wider to inside left or inside right. In between the position of winger and striker.
“I think he’ll stick with Cristian Volpato, and Jordy Bos on the right side. I thought that worked really well.
“He has got the ability to throw in a surprise because they are privy to data that we’re not.
“I think he’ll go with that formation. He might think about bringing Paul Okon-Engstler back in the midfield.”
As for Australia’s chances against Egypt, Bosnich believes Saturday morning’s clash could go the distance.
“I think they’ve got a real chance of winning,” he said.
“Egypt are only two places above Australia in the world rankings. They have two undoubted stars of world football in Mohamed Salah, who has a hamstring issue.
“The other one is Omar Marmoush from Manchester City. They’ve got other good players as well in Emam Ashour.
“This is their first time in the knockout stages.
“But I really think Australia has good momentum, they’ve got a good, young side, they’re very organised.
“It could possibly go all the way to penalties but I think Australia can win this.”
