Socceroos fans want him, but Volpato's international future up in air after Roma breakthrough

Social media has been ablaze the past few days, with users wanting Christian Volpato to be selected for the Socceroos’ do-or-die World Cup qualification matches in March against Japan and Saudi Arabia.

Fans have been crying out for the FA and in particular Graham Arnold to increase the pressure on Sydney-born Volpato’s decision and declare his allegiance for the green and gold rather than the Azzuri.

All this online commotion happened after Volpato came off the bench and scored a goal in Roma’s disappointing 2-2 draw with Verona on the weekend.

Volpato has made two substitute appearances for Roma’s first team this season and in less than 30 minutes of action, he already has a goal next to his name in the most tactical football league in the world: Serie A.

It is a wonderful achievement for the teenager, who has been training with the first team since pre-season and contributes regularly under the watchful eye of Jose Mourinho in his intense sessions.

The most common determent for Australian fans who feel it is too early to call him up is the fact that Volpato is not playing regularly with the Roma first team.

However, the Socceroos have history with debuting players who aren’t playing week in, week out.

Harry Kewell debuted for the Roos at 17 year of age. He had only taken part in two matches for Leeds at this stage.

Chris Ikonomidis received a cap at 19. This was prior to him even playing a game for his club side Lazio, which didn’t happen until months after his international call-up.

Volpato’s agent is Rome’s favourite son, Francesco Totti, who has been welcomed back to his spiritual home after falling out with management in 2019 after a nearly 30-year association to the club.

Like his agent, Volpato wears the mythical No.10 shirt for Roma’s primavera side where he also plays in an attacking midfield slash striker position like ‘Er Bimbo de Oro’ (‘The Golden Boy’).

Seeing Totti in the stands celebrating his young protege’s goal will have meant a lot to the Fedayn – Roma’s Ultras.

The Fedayn were named after a group of Iranian guerrilla fighters and have shown unwavering support to besieged coach Jose Mourinho during the team’s tumultuous Serie A campaign.

Mourinho most recently has been vocal in referring to bias against his side and will likely face a ban. His inflammatory comments only do more to rile up the passionate Fedayn.

With Totti slowly being introduced back into the fold, rumours of a boardroom shake up have been gathering pace.

Australia’s youth development pathways will yet again come under siege, with more questions as to how a player with fantastic technical skills was let go.

From the outside looking in, it is hard for anyone not associated to Volpato in his junior days at Sydney FC and Western Sydney Wanderers to know why he was cut by both sides.

Both reasons were different, but then again, they both go hand in hand when it comes to a teenager developing in Australia.

Tony Basha’s contacts in Europe had scouts interested in a clubless teenager who was playing on his own in an academy.

Signing players off videos is commonplace these days. Roma were interested but they wanted to see the player in action as well as talk to him.

After flying Volpato to Italy, a hat trick in 15 minutes against Trastevere was all they needed to see.

Should Volpato go on and become a regular starter in Roma’s first XI, more questions will be asked of Australia’s youth development pathways.

But right now he has only participated in two matches and there have been plenty of Australian players anointed as the next great one that ended up only playing a few games in Europe before coming back to the A-League Men and even the NPL.

As for his international allegiance, by all reports Australia has been in contact with the Volpato family. Whether he chooses to play for the country of his birth or the one of his ancestors is anyone guess at the moment.