It’s not out of the ordinary for a teenage Australian to sign for a big European club. What is unusual is that two A-League clubs had Cristian Volpato in their youth systems and both came to the same conclusion: he wasn’t good enough.
Fast forward to 2021 and the 17-year-old was asked by the Italian FA to play in the U19s national side after his agent, legendary former player Francesco Totti, secured his protege a five-year contract at Serie A powerhouse AS Roma.
Volpato has been given the No.10 shirt for Roma’s primavera side this season and has repaid that faith by scoring several goals already from a hybrid of attacking midfield and striker positions.
This is a significant number for the Rome side – the previous incumbent was coincidentally Totti – and it was retired by the club.
Volpato is one of only a few primavera team players currently training with the Roma first team.
Coach Jose Mourinho and several of his players have been impressed with Volpato’s technique and goalscoring in the training that he’s taken part in.
Jose Mourinho (Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
How exactly did Sydney FC and the Western Sydney Wanderers both miss this potential though?
I first became aware of Volpato when he was running amok with the Abbotsford juniors as a striker.
His tally of 25 goals that season was box office and clubs began to circle the youngster like a shark smelling blood in the water.
Volpato initially signed for Sydney FC, which was an unusual move as Sydney are normally reluctant to recruit out of their ‘catchment area’ – Volpato is from Camperdown, which is a suburb in the heart of western Sydney.
His time in sky blue was short-lived, but cross-town rivals Wanderers were willing to give the talented teen another chance – unfortunately as a 15-year-old he was cut from the under-16 side.
There are many reasons why Australia’s talented kids don’t make it, competition for places is a big one – several kids can be vying for one position due to there not being enough professional clubs in the country.
Politics and the football system itself are other reasons for players missing out – clubs will target certain characteristics and if a player doesn’t have or develop them quickly, they are cast aside and lost in the Australian wasteland of a football system.
Volpato’s Sydney departure was due to his height, however – like many boys in their teens – he had a height burst very late to now stand a commanding 6’1″.
His time at the Wanderers was marred by perceived attitude problems, however the right coaching staff can nurture that wicked streak to the player and team’s benefit.
Australian coach Graham Arnold has reached out to persuade the talented attacking midfielder to play for Australia’s under 23s, but the offer was declined.
Graham Arnold (Francois Nel/Getty Images)
Even though Volpato holds dual citizenship, it is not a given who he will choose to represent. Two bad experiences with Aussie clubs left a sour taste in his mouth vurt Volpato is still open to representing the country where he spent his younger years.
Volpato would be wise to tread carefully though. Roma has a history of signing Australian teenagers and hyping them up, before they get lost in the European shuffle and come back home. Daniel De Silva comes to mind, having failed to reach his potential, he has bounced around A-League clubs since.
Volpato escaping the clutches of two of the biggest clubs in the A-League shows the problems in recruitment of players.
There’s a famous Italian saying: “Dietro ogni problema c’è un’opportunità“, which loosely translates to: “behind any problem, there is an opportunity.”
Volpato found his, but how many young Australian boys and girls will miss theirs?
Andrew
Guest
I think you got your suburbs mixed up, Camperdown is pretty central. Definitely not 'Western Sydney'. Is he actually from there or was he just born at the RPA Hospital?
AJ73
Roar Rookie
The way the system works is the issue, as mentioned some (more) make it through to higher levels on name/connection alone. Or as someone else mentioned fitting the criteria of a team/club. We have had personal experience of it with my daughter. Unfortunately, often those put in positions to select teams/players have some bia, especially if they follow the age groups up. No wonder some parents go out of their way to make friends of influential people. They shouldn't be looking for the next Kewell, Cahill, etc. They are once in a generation players and mean others who could still play in Europe or internationally miss out because they aren't at a particular standard at a particular time. They should be looking for the next Kruse, etc. More progress and more chance of finding a high quality player as they get older. On the flip side that just as many kids improve with training and age, so often missed at the younger years.
Punter
Roar Rookie
Craig Johnston made a comment at 17 years old (playing football for Australia is like surfing for England) & was never forgiven. Gosh I hope never get criticised for what I said at 17 years old. In all honesty, he was very, very close to English selection, surprised he never got the call up. Craig Johnson did more for Australian football & especially Liverpool then most people playing for Socceroos in the 1980s.
Punter
Roar Rookie
This is so true. Australia always for as long as I can remember picks athletes & try to make footballers out of them instead of picking footballers & make athletes out of them.
RbbAnonymous
Roar Rookie
Volpato is from Camperdown, which is a suburb in the heart of western Sydney. Lol that statement is a bit misleading. Its Camperdown not Cambelltown, the suburb is like 5 minutes from the heart of the city. In any case I have no doubt he got discarded for the same reasons so many others do, not tall enough, not strong enough. I guarantee you the coaches would have gathered around the campfire and agreed he could play football but wouldnt make it. This is what infuriates me the most. Football is a game which can be played by all types of people, body types and physical attributes. The most important attribute for a footballer is technique, technique, technique. While everything else is important, it is technique which should be the overiding attribute for a football and the main determinent of whether you will make it. Isnt it hilarious, from an A-league reject twice straight to Roma. Just quietly arent all the best footballers around the 5'7 - 6'0 range anyway. The mind boggles, it really does. Same old same old.
Bludger
Guest
I heard it was like that in soccer here. There is literally 3 boys for every position, but the connected father gets his son in. Motor racing, like go karts is far, far worse than this, same with tennis. The cashed up parents are the only ones with a look in. AFL is about as fair as you get. I am not sure about the two rugby codes, but it seems to be tipped very much in favour of the islander communities, so I will steer my boy away from that. If I had to choose it would be golf, because then you can have the excuse to play more. Meet lovely people, it's just not terribly sexy as the downside.
Bludger
Guest
He would probably never play for the senior Italian team. They have too much talent. But what it will do is tie him into their transfer system and that equals money to the Italian clubs. So, he needs to be careful of that false oasis of playing for the Azzuri. He probably won't ever. I bet the agents said, if you sign for the Italian Calcio organisation then you could get to play for Juve, Milan, Inter etc.. I hope he makes the right decision and doesn't regret it for life like some of the others did, like Craig Johnston.
At work
Roar Rookie
While he technically is able to rep both countries, his chances of playing for Australia are way way higher than the Azzuri. Does he want to play at a World Cup, well then I see only one viable option for him and that's with us! :thumbup:
At work
Roar Rookie
Haha, geez half of Camperdown (the suburb) forms part of the City of Sydney council. And the inner West is more Sydney FC territory my friend. But I guess everything from the Anzac Bridge is west of the city...
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
thats the thing most people are missing, mourinho has never been known for blooding much youth in his coaching career. its fairly significant for the kid to be already training with the first team though. however he wont displace pellegrini in mourinhos line up, mkhitaryans playing out on the left to accommodate pelligrini at attacking mid roma look really strong so far this season, volpatos going to need to bide his time. - keep on scoring goals for the 18's
Nick Symonds
Guest
"the last thing we need are more kids in this country being hyped up at such a young age." It's a bit like the scene from The Life Of Brian. Brian: I'm not the Messiah! Arthur: I say you are, Lord, and I should know, I've followed a few! - Volpato: I'm not the next Harry Kewell! Basha: I say you are, and I should know, I've coached a few! Volpato: I'm not the next Harry Kewell! Will you please listen?! I'm not the next Harry Kewell, do you understand?! Honestly! Random woman: Only the next Harry Kewell denies his true footballing greatness! Volpato: What?! Well, what sort of chance does that give me?! All right, I am the next Harry Kewell! Crowd: He is! He is the next Harry Kewell! Volpato: Now, f*** off! [Silence] Basha: How shall we f*** off, oh great one? Volpato: Oh, just go away! Leave me alone!
Will
Guest
Ive seen this story with the likes of Piscopo and Brad Smith in recent memory, good luck to the lad but I won't be jumping the gun until he makes the grade at first team level especially under a coach like Mourinho who doesn't use alot of young players when he's coaching. I do agree the lack of opportunities is a big problem in Australia which makes it more harder for player ID as aleague clubs dont want to get it wrong when only a certain make it to the next level. We need a NSD asap to develop more players simple as that, as the current structure is not perfect.
Punter
Roar Rookie
Thanks Nick, enjoyed that.
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
i know bash, we've shared information over the years. Hes very forthright (alot more than me, and im pretty damn forthright lol) when it comes to australian youth His viewpoints on the system and set up in australia are eerily similar to mine i think even he would admit he's not overly well liked by a league clubs because of his aggressive views and the feelings are more than mutual lol He's got a solid success rate, but the last thing we need are more kids in this country being hyped up at such a young age. 100% attack sydney/wanderers for letting volpato go, hhhhhhhhhhowever bash knows that a league clubs look for certain charteristics and if a player doesnt meet them, they will be discarded. and just because volpatos training with the roma first team, doesn't mean he'll break through - a lot of 16/17/18 year old kids in these big clubs junior system train with the first team potential is there though, up to him to take it now
sportstar111
Roar Rookie
I don't think he was a Westie boy, he went to Joeys which is on the lower north shore
Nick Symonds
Guest
Tony Basha was building up Volpato as the next Harry Kewell, but if he really is that good and he ends up playing for Italy then he could end up being the next Christian Vieri. Hope it doesn't go that way.
Nick Symonds
Guest
"Is nepotism still big in our scouting in this country?" - Oddly enough, Basha's academy has a 3-part series on YouTube called "unwanted" all about turning unwanted players into pros. They also have a video called "political football trials" all about nepotism. - UNWANTED EP.1 | AUSTRALASIAN SOCCER ACADEMY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTbRTg2wdro Political Football Trials https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3HW1qsdSjY
Punter
Roar Rookie
Yep looks like he was born in Australia. However, cannot agree more 'how did 2 A League clubs pass him over'? This is a big issue in this country, you see so many players with lots of players with lots of youth age national team appearance playing & you wonder how & yet you get a player like this slip thru. Is nepotism still big in our scouting in this country?
Nick Symonds
Guest
Check out C. Volpato’s goal for AS Roma (facebook) https://ne-np.facebook.com/AustralasianSoccerAcademy/videos/check-out-c-volpatos-goal-for-as-roma-/389259485903219/?__so__=permalink&__rv__=related_videos - Cristian Volpato (goal vs fiorentina) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdJphBcAiBo
Nick Symonds
Guest
Place of birth: Camperdown Citizenship: Australia - https://www.transfermarkt.com/cristian-volpato/profil/spieler/746891