There were incredible scenes on Thursday morning (AEST) as Socceroos gun Alessandro Circati sealed promotion to Italy’s top flight with his Parma side.
A 1-1 draw with Bari – in which Circati played every minute – guaranteed Parma’s promotion given they are seven points clear of third-placed Venezia with two games to play.
They are also on the verge of winning the Serie B title thanks to a three-point lead over second-placed Como.
20-year-old Circati has been a key figure for Parma this campaign, with the centre-back featuring 31 times this season across all competitions.
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Circati missed out on the Socceroos’ poor Asian Cup campaign in January, with Socceroos coach Graham Arnold omitting the one-cap international in the hope that Parma would release him for the Olyroos U-23 Asian cup campaign last month that doubled as Olympic qualifiers.
But his importance to the Crocati meant the Italian side refused to allow him to join the Australian under-23 side – though he has now been rewarded with a place in Italy’s top flight next season.
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He’ll be hoping to compete against Cristian Volpato, the talented 20-year-old who is in an international selection tug of war between the Socceroos and Italy. Volpato has played 20 times in Serie A this season for Sassuolo, but the Neroverdi are in a dire relegation battle –
Read on foxsports.com.au