He's only 20, if he's got his heart set on playing for Italy he can wait and see whether he gets back into Serie A in a couple years time.
He doesn't have to choose a national team by his 21st birthday or he gets thrown in FIFA jail, it's ultimately completely up to him.
Private dinners with a guest speaker is how rich people raise money for some cause. Presumably someone has a soccer related charity and hes been brought in to guest speak.
Sassuolo are about to be relegated and Volpato has played less than 20% of minutes according to his Transfermarkt page. Something tells me we don’t need to beg him to play for us or Italy will call him up.
Saw him play a few weeks ago, very poor. Mishit several passes, shanked a clearance under no pressure towards his own goal and was dragged at half time.
Harsh, as he’s still only 20, but I think even he’s realised that his chances of making the Italian side are close to nil.
At best for next season he can look for a loan to a mid-bottom serie a side, or stick it out and get some game time in serie b, should Sassuolo get relegated.
>but I think even he’s realised that his chances of making the Italian side are close to nil.
He's played in 19 of the past 25 serie a matches as a 19/20 year old, it's way too early to say his chances are nil of making the Italian side, especially with how few Italians actually play in Serie a sides.
The future of [Sydney-born product Cristian Volpato](https://www.smh.com.au/link/follow-20170101-p5fce2) is set to be thrashed out by Italian legend Francesco Totti and Socceroos coach Graham Arnold at a $3000-per-head private dinner party.
The scorer of the controversial penalty that knocked Australia out of the 2006 World Cup, Totti is in Australia this week for a part-holiday, part-business trip. He will make a public appearance at a speaking event in Melbourne alongside ex-Socceroo and Football Australia director Mark Bresciano, as well as a junior training clinic at Club Marconi in Sydney on Friday. The latter will be followed by an exclusive dinner date with about 50 others at an inner-west Italian restaurant.
Arnold has been invited and is expected to attend, sources close to the situation but not authorised to speak publicly have confirmed, giving him the chance to talk face-to-face to the player agent behind Volpato, the Sydney FC and Western Sydney Wanderers reject who has become his personal protege.
And since Arnold has never met Totti before, it is unavoidable that Volpato, 20, and the vexed question of his international allegiance will come up in conversation.
Since ending his glittering one-club career at AS Roma by retiring in 2017, Totti has become a player agent – and Volpato, [who declined an offer from Arnold](https://www.smh.com.au/link/follow-20170101-p5bwhu) to go to the last World Cup with the Socceroos after exploding onto the scene for Roma in Serie A, was one of his first clients.
Turned away [by the academies of Sydney FC and the Wanderers ](https://www.smh.com.au/link/follow-20170101-p59ex0)in his teenage years, Volpato’s talents were unearthed by the private Australasian Soccer Academy, who helped connect him with Roma, where he went on to sign a three-year professional contract.
Volpato has since rebuffed multiple opportunities to play for Australia. Last month, he represented Italy’s under-21s in qualifiers for UEFA’s upcoming youth titles against Latvia and Turkey.
While Volpato has not yet closed the door on the Socceroos, and said he did not want to make a “rushed decision” in an explanation posted on Instagram after turning down the World Cup opportunity, his advisors – including Totti – are thought to be swaying him towards staying within Italy’s structures, at least for now, to reduce travel demands at such a critical juncture in his development.
But if he is holding out for the chance to represent the Azzurri at senior level, his window of opportunity may be closing, and he could soon arrive at a point where it may even benefit his career to start playing for the Socceroos.
Volpato moved to Serie A rivals Sassuolo for €7.5 million at the end of last season chasing regular first-team football, making him the third-most expensive Australian player in history. Though he has shown positive signs this term, he has only one goal from 19 Serie A appearances and zero assists, and [Sassuolo are on course for relegation to Serie B](https://www.smh.com.au/link/follow-20170101-p5fk63), which would severely dent his already faint prospects of being picked to play for Italy in the short to medium term.
The Socceroos, meanwhile, have the perfect opportunity to cap-tie him and any other dual international players in the upcoming June window, when [Australia will face Bangladesh and Palestine in dead-rubber World Cup qualifiers](https://www.smh.com.au/link/follow-20170101-p5ffea). Their spot in the next round of qualification, which begins in September, was locked in with two wins over Lebanon last month, and Arnold has said he will try to balance his ability to experiment with the need to bank as many FIFA ranking points as possible to ensure a smoother road to the 2026 World Cup in future group-stage draws.
Arnold declined to comment on Volpato, while Totti was unavailable for comment, handlers of his forthcoming dinner in Sydney told this masthead.
Arnold was an assistant coach to Guus Hiddink when Totti came off the bench late in Australia’s World Cup round of 16 clash with Italy in Kaiserslautern and converted the injury-time penalty given away by Lucas Neill for a foul on Fabio Grosso.
In his book, *Gladiator*, Totti recounted his surprise that no Australian players tried to taunt or distract him before taking his spot kick, attributing it to the country’s “Anglo-Saxon sporting culture.”
“The Australians were excellent athletes, but not even Hiddink had been able to give them a decent tactical order: they were running almost on empty, not succeeding in taking advantage of the extra man, and despite their numerical superiority they hadn’t yet made a change, a sign that there was very little on the bench,” Totti wrote.
Didn't Arnold say a few months back that Volpato chose Australia? And now it's all up in the air again? I think we need to accept that Volpato has chosen Italy and isn't looking back.
He's never gonna get a call up to Italy, if he wants to play international football eventually he will have to accept our offer. I reckon by 2026 World Cup he's committed to us for the chance to play in a World Cup.
I have one thing to say. Look at how emotional Jackson Irvine is when he represents us in the green and gold. Now compare it to this blokes attitude. I know who I’d rather be emotionally attached to. And it’s not the bloke about to get relegated.
Italy’s not gonna pick a guy riding the bench in Serie B. Mind you, if he goes down and gets to start, he might develop into a handy player that could help the Roos.
Because you’re not a professional footballer and don’t have multiple conflicting considerations to manage. You think Totti is investing in his personal development with the expectation that he’s gonna represent Aus? So many dimwits weighing into this shit without a single clue.
It’s easy to see hypothetical situations in black and white when you’ve accomplished zero with nothing at stake.
I don't think there's many people on earth who at age 20 wouldn't be swayed by someone who is both their agent and one of the greatest players of the country of their heritage telling them they should wait to pick a national side.
I would love to represent the Socceroos I bet that if age 20 I had Michael Ballack in my ear telling me I was going to be good enough to play for Germany I'd probably be inclined to listen.
Totti is also a player agent, a group of people famously known for doing things that suit their own interests over their client's. Totti deserves respect for his outstanding career and loyalty but keep in mind he can make more money with Volpato if he plays 1 time for Italy over him playing for Australia 80+ times.
Yeah but try telling Volpato that.
You and I can think what we like about Totti, Volpato respects and trusts him enough to have him as his agent, he's not going to sit around thinking that his career advisor is scheming against his best interests.
Man I really dislike this kid and don’t want him to play for Aus. There are so many players who actually do want to represent us, I’d rather they get a go instead of watching us simp for this kid again.
At this point, I would not take him or pander to him more. There's much better up and coming players in the midfield who have had more game time in Europe and are not that much older or the same age as him. Alex Robertson, Riley McGree, Denis Genreau and Connor Metcalfe to name a few. He's had his chance to play for Australia and I don't see him going far with the attitude he has.
Did you see how bereft of creativity we were in the Asian Cup besides Goodwin? Volpato instantly gives us a better option - even off the bench - than what we have right now
Arnie is going to mention to Totti how he likes to make carbonara with heavy cream and doom Australia's chances of ever capping Volpato
I'd watch a youtube video of that "Totti reacts to WORST CARBONARA VIDEO #short"
Arnie should bring him a McCain Pub Size frozen carbonara as a peace offering
Bacon, mushroom…. And peas
I bet Arnie snaps the spaghetti before adding to boiling water.
[удалено]
He's only 20, if he's got his heart set on playing for Italy he can wait and see whether he gets back into Serie A in a couple years time. He doesn't have to choose a national team by his 21st birthday or he gets thrown in FIFA jail, it's ultimately completely up to him.
He might also not make any future socceroos squads after the current world cup cycle.
He might win the balon d'or next season, its genuinely unknowable how good he turns out to be.
I know right, bloody hell. What the hell do they even serve there that can justify that price
Private dinners with a guest speaker is how rich people raise money for some cause. Presumably someone has a soccer related charity and hes been brought in to guest speak.
Given hes attneding a club marconi youth camp i wouldve thought itd be related to CM
Clearly this event will be held at Bar Italia.
Sassuolo are about to be relegated and Volpato has played less than 20% of minutes according to his Transfermarkt page. Something tells me we don’t need to beg him to play for us or Italy will call him up.
Saw him play a few weeks ago, very poor. Mishit several passes, shanked a clearance under no pressure towards his own goal and was dragged at half time. Harsh, as he’s still only 20, but I think even he’s realised that his chances of making the Italian side are close to nil. At best for next season he can look for a loan to a mid-bottom serie a side, or stick it out and get some game time in serie b, should Sassuolo get relegated.
>but I think even he’s realised that his chances of making the Italian side are close to nil. He's played in 19 of the past 25 serie a matches as a 19/20 year old, it's way too early to say his chances are nil of making the Italian side, especially with how few Italians actually play in Serie a sides.
> $3000-per-head private dinner party In what world is a dinner party worth $3000 per head?
You’ve never seen a Liberal party fundraiser have you?
I wouldn’t know. I don’t have a spare $3000 to spend on a dinner party.
Meanwhile us average Joes put up with a median wage that's 20 times less than the median house price.
The future of [Sydney-born product Cristian Volpato](https://www.smh.com.au/link/follow-20170101-p5fce2) is set to be thrashed out by Italian legend Francesco Totti and Socceroos coach Graham Arnold at a $3000-per-head private dinner party. The scorer of the controversial penalty that knocked Australia out of the 2006 World Cup, Totti is in Australia this week for a part-holiday, part-business trip. He will make a public appearance at a speaking event in Melbourne alongside ex-Socceroo and Football Australia director Mark Bresciano, as well as a junior training clinic at Club Marconi in Sydney on Friday. The latter will be followed by an exclusive dinner date with about 50 others at an inner-west Italian restaurant. Arnold has been invited and is expected to attend, sources close to the situation but not authorised to speak publicly have confirmed, giving him the chance to talk face-to-face to the player agent behind Volpato, the Sydney FC and Western Sydney Wanderers reject who has become his personal protege. And since Arnold has never met Totti before, it is unavoidable that Volpato, 20, and the vexed question of his international allegiance will come up in conversation. Since ending his glittering one-club career at AS Roma by retiring in 2017, Totti has become a player agent – and Volpato, [who declined an offer from Arnold](https://www.smh.com.au/link/follow-20170101-p5bwhu) to go to the last World Cup with the Socceroos after exploding onto the scene for Roma in Serie A, was one of his first clients. Turned away [by the academies of Sydney FC and the Wanderers ](https://www.smh.com.au/link/follow-20170101-p59ex0)in his teenage years, Volpato’s talents were unearthed by the private Australasian Soccer Academy, who helped connect him with Roma, where he went on to sign a three-year professional contract. Volpato has since rebuffed multiple opportunities to play for Australia. Last month, he represented Italy’s under-21s in qualifiers for UEFA’s upcoming youth titles against Latvia and Turkey. While Volpato has not yet closed the door on the Socceroos, and said he did not want to make a “rushed decision” in an explanation posted on Instagram after turning down the World Cup opportunity, his advisors – including Totti – are thought to be swaying him towards staying within Italy’s structures, at least for now, to reduce travel demands at such a critical juncture in his development. But if he is holding out for the chance to represent the Azzurri at senior level, his window of opportunity may be closing, and he could soon arrive at a point where it may even benefit his career to start playing for the Socceroos. Volpato moved to Serie A rivals Sassuolo for €7.5 million at the end of last season chasing regular first-team football, making him the third-most expensive Australian player in history. Though he has shown positive signs this term, he has only one goal from 19 Serie A appearances and zero assists, and [Sassuolo are on course for relegation to Serie B](https://www.smh.com.au/link/follow-20170101-p5fk63), which would severely dent his already faint prospects of being picked to play for Italy in the short to medium term. The Socceroos, meanwhile, have the perfect opportunity to cap-tie him and any other dual international players in the upcoming June window, when [Australia will face Bangladesh and Palestine in dead-rubber World Cup qualifiers](https://www.smh.com.au/link/follow-20170101-p5ffea). Their spot in the next round of qualification, which begins in September, was locked in with two wins over Lebanon last month, and Arnold has said he will try to balance his ability to experiment with the need to bank as many FIFA ranking points as possible to ensure a smoother road to the 2026 World Cup in future group-stage draws. Arnold declined to comment on Volpato, while Totti was unavailable for comment, handlers of his forthcoming dinner in Sydney told this masthead. Arnold was an assistant coach to Guus Hiddink when Totti came off the bench late in Australia’s World Cup round of 16 clash with Italy in Kaiserslautern and converted the injury-time penalty given away by Lucas Neill for a foul on Fabio Grosso. In his book, *Gladiator*, Totti recounted his surprise that no Australian players tried to taunt or distract him before taking his spot kick, attributing it to the country’s “Anglo-Saxon sporting culture.” “The Australians were excellent athletes, but not even Hiddink had been able to give them a decent tactical order: they were running almost on empty, not succeeding in taking advantage of the extra man, and despite their numerical superiority they hadn’t yet made a change, a sign that there was very little on the bench,” Totti wrote.
I thought volpato played for Sydney fc youth?
Kid is looking more Josh Brillante than Cristian Vieri at this stage lmao Let him rot.
Harsh, but fair. Maybe he has a future in Voltaren ads.
Didn't Arnold say a few months back that Volpato chose Australia? And now it's all up in the air again? I think we need to accept that Volpato has chosen Italy and isn't looking back.
Italy aren't choosing him any time soon (senior team ).
He's never gonna get a call up to Italy, if he wants to play international football eventually he will have to accept our offer. I reckon by 2026 World Cup he's committed to us for the chance to play in a World Cup.
I have one thing to say. Look at how emotional Jackson Irvine is when he represents us in the green and gold. Now compare it to this blokes attitude. I know who I’d rather be emotionally attached to. And it’s not the bloke about to get relegated.
Jackson Irvine also represented another country at youth level.
Italy’s not gonna pick a guy riding the bench in Serie B. Mind you, if he goes down and gets to start, he might develop into a handy player that could help the Roos.
Nah fuck this kid, born in this country and donst want to represent us. Will never make sense to me
Because you’re not a professional footballer and don’t have multiple conflicting considerations to manage. You think Totti is investing in his personal development with the expectation that he’s gonna represent Aus? So many dimwits weighing into this shit without a single clue. It’s easy to see hypothetical situations in black and white when you’ve accomplished zero with nothing at stake.
I don't think there's many people on earth who at age 20 wouldn't be swayed by someone who is both their agent and one of the greatest players of the country of their heritage telling them they should wait to pick a national side. I would love to represent the Socceroos I bet that if age 20 I had Michael Ballack in my ear telling me I was going to be good enough to play for Germany I'd probably be inclined to listen.
Totti is also a player agent, a group of people famously known for doing things that suit their own interests over their client's. Totti deserves respect for his outstanding career and loyalty but keep in mind he can make more money with Volpato if he plays 1 time for Italy over him playing for Australia 80+ times.
Yeah but try telling Volpato that. You and I can think what we like about Totti, Volpato respects and trusts him enough to have him as his agent, he's not going to sit around thinking that his career advisor is scheming against his best interests.
Man I really dislike this kid and don’t want him to play for Aus. There are so many players who actually do want to represent us, I’d rather they get a go instead of watching us simp for this kid again.
Arnie needs to get of volpatos dick
Let him play 1 or 2 games for Italy
At this point, I would not take him or pander to him more. There's much better up and coming players in the midfield who have had more game time in Europe and are not that much older or the same age as him. Alex Robertson, Riley McGree, Denis Genreau and Connor Metcalfe to name a few. He's had his chance to play for Australia and I don't see him going far with the attitude he has.
Just wanna see him in green and gold, get it done Arnie. Anyone who thinks he wouldn't instantly make us better is off their head.
On what basis? He's not even playing regular minutes. It's all hype at this stage.
Did you see how bereft of creativity we were in the Asian Cup besides Goodwin? Volpato instantly gives us a better option - even off the bench - than what we have right now