Circati does not leave Irankunda unanswered: “Greater of Portugal is Benfica”

Alessandro Circati was the player elected to speak to journalists early this Sunday morning, outside the concentration of Australia's main selection, and, as you would expect, was ‘bombed’ by journalists with questions related to the process that brought him from Parma to Benfica, in the past summer transfer market, for a sum of EUR 17 million.

“Of course, after the World Cup, I had my vacation. I was with my friends from Perth in Europe, and then there was a lot of talk. I am sure that you saw everything, with many discussions of ‘Perhaps this, maybe that’, of leaving only if other players left...”, began by affirming the central defense.

“ Then I was in the car driving back from the beach to Parma, and I got a phone call saying ‘I think we will have to move to Lisbon this week’, obviously, if I wanted to. When I got all the details, I realized it was a call from Benfica. They really wanted me. The coach wanted me, and the president, Rui Costa, also”, continued.

“ I was very anxious, I wanted to take this step forward, but clearly it wasn't all in my hands, because, as you know, there are values to be discussed between clubs. I couldn’t do anything about it, so I had to wait and hope for the best”, he completed, before ‘opening the book’ about the eagle’s debut to the chest, in the victory over AC Milan, by 0-2.

“For my club debut, I couldn’t have imagined anything better. The family I have in Italy was there. Actually, my uncle went to the game with an AC Milan scarf, because most of my family is a fan of AC Milan. He showed up with an AC Milan scarf, but he also wore a Benfica sweater, so it was a mixed one, but it was great. My mother, my father, my brother, my friends... It was a dream come true”, he confessed.

As for adaptation to the new reality and the Portuguese language, he did not hide, “it was not easy”: “Fortunately, I can sort of understand. It is quite similar to Italian and Spanish, which are languages that I understand. I was able to pick up a few words and figure things out, but with the help of my teammates, the coach, the technical team... They were a great help”.

“ Most or all boys speak English, which is also a great help factor. It helps you adapt a little faster, but obviously it's not easy. The first few weeks aren't easy. You still don't have a home. But once you figure it all out, you start feeling more at home. This comes with time, it is normal ", shot.

Greater Portugal? “That’s not even a question”

In conclusion, Alessandro Circati took the opportunity to return the ‘bicada’ to his teammate, Nestory Irankuda, who, mid-week, defended that ‘his’ Sporting is “the biggest club in Portugal”. Faced with the question about, after all, who ‘sends’ in the country, the central defense smiled and shot: "That's not even a question, man. The Benfica”.

“It’s a current thing... Obviously Nestor and I are very close friends. Now, being in the same city and being rivals, it touches the heart more and is always good. These are friendly provocations and we obviously want to win against each other. It’s just that”, he concluded, well humored.