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Socceroos’ coach Graham Arnold believes overseas teams are preventing Australia’s next wave of talent from accepting national team call-ups in favour of focusing on their club football.
On Thursday, Arnold announced his extended squad for the Socceroos’ upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers against Lebanon.
Rising star Alessandro Circati was a notable absentee from the 25-player squad despite being regarded as one of Australia’s most promising centre-backs.
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The 20-year-old, who was born in Italy but raised in Perth, and is currently playing for Italian club Parma Calcio in Serie B, was also missing from the Olyroos’ squad for a training tournament in Saudi Arabia.
Earlier this year, Circati did not feature in the Socceroos’ Asian Cup campaign causing many pundits to raise an eyebrow.
During his announcement, Arnold explained that by leaving Circati out of fixtures earlier in the year, he figured that Parma would be more likely to release him for Australia’s Olympic qualifiers which fall outside the FIFA men’s international windows.
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Arnold claimed that many overseas clubs are hesitant to release their younger Australian players for youth internationals or to fill spots in the national team as the travel required can impact their availability for club matches.
Australia’s national under-23 men’s team, the Olyroos, represents Australia in the men’s draw at the Olympic Games.
With Parma pushing for promotion to Italian football’s top flight, Arnold is doubtful that the club will release Circati for next month’s Olympic qualifiers.
“That’s to be determined. But I have to say, I’d be doubtful about that,” Arnold said of Circati’s availability.
“[Olyroos coach] Tony Vidmar at the moment is getting quite a number of overseas-based clubs refusing to release players in April.
“I spoke to [Circati] and I think it’s one thing a lot of people need to understand — the pressure that kids get put under from their clubs overseas to [not] play for Australia is a lot.
“Alessandro and even [Aussie-born attacker] Cristian Volpato, exactly the same.
“They just want to focus on their club careers at this moment in time. I do believe that Alessandro, especially, will play for Australia, and I do believe Cristian will want to play for Australia.
“It’s just at the moment, the timing is probably not right for them — especially with Alessandro; [he’s] going for promotion with Parma to get up in Serie A.”
Circati is yet to formally pledge his allegiance on the international stage, therefore he remains eligible to represent Italy or Australia.
While Circati was named to make his debut in the green and gold last June, he is yet to take to the field during a competitive fixture.
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