Alessandro Circati

Alessandro Circati is a young Australian-born centre-back who has developed entirely within Parma's system, earning senior minutes in Serie B before the club's promotion back to Serie A. His decision to represent Australia rather than Italy — eligible through his Australian background — adds an interesting dimension to his profile. Still only 22, he is one of the more technically refined defenders in the Socceroos setup, comfortable playing out from the back in a way that suits Tony Popovic's possession-oriented approach. His development in Italian football gives him a tactical education that distinguishes him from many of his defensive peers in the squad.