Mat Ryan rolls out welcome mat for new Socceroo Alessandro Circati

The Socceroos are ready to embrace the debut of Italy-based teenager Alessandro Circati. Photo: AAP
Mat Ryan wants Alessandro Circati to feel comfortable as he prepares to make his Socceroos debut against Argentina.
But thereâs another reason the Australian captain and goalkeeper is keen to pick the 19-year-old central defenderâs brains.
Circati plays for Parma in Serie B and has twice run on for Italyâs under-20 team.
But his addition to Graham Arnoldâs squad for Thursdayâs one-off clash in Beijing comes after the Perth-raised talent called the coach earlier this year to confirm his allegiance.
Tweet from @aleaguemen
Parma has also welcomed home goalkeeping great Gianluigi Buffon, the 45-year-old back at the club that launched his career in 1995.
âHeâs playing with arguably the best goalkeeper to ever play our game,â Ryan said of Circati on Sunday from Beijing.
âIâm keen to pick his brain about that to see if I can get any insight into Buffon as well.â
The pair have only spoken briefly since arriving in camp in the Chinese capital, but Ryan promised that the teenager would be given every chance to flourish in green and gold ahead of the Asian Cup in Qatar in January-February.
Tweet from @Socceroos
âHeâs going to have the willingness to settle in as fast as he can and weâve got the willingness to want to bring him into the environment and make him feel as comfortable as possible so he can play his best football for us and help make us stronger,â Ryan said.
âIâm sure the more experience and more time he gets with us, the better itâs going to be for him to establish relationships.
âFingers crossed he can knuckle down as well and make the most of his opportunity of being here.
âThe responsibility is on him to do well, give Arnie a reason to pick him, and keep picking him down the track.â
Tweet from @Socceroos
Lionel Messi scored in Argentinaâs tense 2-1 round-of-16 defeat of Australia at last yearâs World Cup, his side going on to lift the trophy.
Ryan is keen to lock horns with Messi again but says he wonât be treating the superstar Argentinian differently.
âItâs the greatest job in the world,â he said.
âI go out there and treat every opposition the same, not giving an identity to an opposition.
âJust implement all Iâve learned to go out there and help our nation do the best that it can.â
-AAP
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