Alessandro Circati | Choosing Socceroos over Italy | Vini Jnr Clone | FIFA world Cup | Benfica

00:00:00
Speaker 1: Bro. Tell me, how's it been? Straight off the bat. Let's go.
00:00:06
Speaker 2: No, it's pretty crazy. Um, yeah, like it was all happened very fast. Um, you know, I'm loving life over here. The, the place is great. The club's great. Um, you know, after a long world cup, uh, I thought we did all right. We could have done better, but you know, it's, that's part of it. It's part of football. It's part of life in all aspects. But, um, Now the whole, well, the last, you know, four months, I felt like I've lived another lifetime.
00:00:36
Speaker 1: Man, the last three years, like your career has just accelerated. Have you felt that?
00:00:41
Speaker 2: Yeah. Yeah, I was, well, I'm never the one that really realizes these things. There's always like a mate that brings it up and he's sort of like, you know, just like three, four years ago, you were sort of, you know, just sort of just starting and all sorts of, you know, it's all, it's all, gone positive. Obviously, I had an injury for a whole year, a whole season, which was, looking back now, was probably my only setback I've had in my career.
00:01:11
Speaker 1: Was that the ACL? Yeah.
00:01:13
Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah.
00:01:13
Speaker 1: And what did you learn about yourself during that period when you were going through the rehab?
00:01:19
Speaker 2: To be honest, a lot, man. You sort of, you learn to appreciate the time you have with yourself. You learn to sort of work behind the scenes, whilst no one is really watching, whilst no one really knows, everyone thinks, you know, I could be doing my own thing, but I was starting at, I was in at nine, I was finishing at five, 5.30 in the afternoon, every day, literally, gym, like, didn't have a minute to sit down, would have like a 10, 15 minute lunch, and then straight back into it, so it was for six days a week as well. So it was pretty crazy, but I learned to sort of just do my own thing. And, you know, at the end of the day, I was doing it for myself and no one else. So, yeah.
00:02:06
Speaker 1: Can you give us a bit of insight about like your routine as a professional footballer? Because as fans, all we see is like the pay packet, the glitz and glam, the cars, you know, the designer clothes, but obviously a lot of work goes behind it. Like what's your routine like in terms of training, the sacrifices you needed to do to get to where you are today? Can you give us a bit of insight on that?
00:02:28
Speaker 2: Yeah. Yeah. At the minute, we're playing every three days, so we're quiet every three, four days now. So we're quiet. Our routine's a little bit very recovery-based, but then we play so often, so it's like mentally you've got to be prepared to play every three days, which is probably the biggest fatigue someone can have. I'm sure everyone that has experienced mental fatigue is like, you know, it's the hardest thing to recover because you're You know, after a game, so much adrenaline, there's so much, you know, preparation going into it. The last thing you want is to, you know, to lose the game. So you put everything you have into those 90 minutes and then it probably takes two days just to recover from that. And then you're playing in 48 hours again. So at the minute, it would be, you know, quite simple. I think just like many sports at the minute would be going in the morning, have breakfast, do some mobility, do some gym, maybe have a video meeting or some sort of meeting, whether that's a technical or tactical or any type, and then a field session followed by, if it's a day that we need to do some upper body, some lower body, and then followed by lunch. And then when I'm back at home, I'd get home around 1.30, 2 p.m. Time to wind down really, you know, sort of. do whatever I have to do outside of football, maybe go get groceries, got to sort out some paperwork, just simple things like that, man. It's a real normal life except, you know, probably the game days.
00:04:01
Speaker 1: How's your Portuguese?
00:04:05
Speaker 2: Not that good, man, to be honest. I can understand because of Italian and Spanish.
00:04:10
Speaker 1: Of course.
00:04:10
Speaker 2: I can speak a little bit of Spanish, understand Spanish almost totally, Italian's. you know, just like my English. So Portuguese, I can't understand. So if someone's speaking to me, I can't understand. The speaking's real tough, man. The sounds, the sounds there.
00:04:27
Speaker 1: It's a different language.
00:04:29
Speaker 2: Yeah, the sounds their mouth makes, like, it's different, man.
00:04:33
Speaker 1: Oh, like I, yeah, because my mom's Portuguese, obviously. And when I hear her speak to me or speak to my grandparents, like, yes, it feels normal to me, right? But then we went to the World Cup this year. I'll try to communicate with someone that was Spanish. My dad looked at me like, what the fuck is this bloke talking about? I'm like, can't be that far different like honestly like you you get it right like pedro's uh our producer here he's uh your guine but like whenever he speaks i hear him like fuck yeah there is no similarities at all at all he's probably right yeah but bro last game uh you play against celtic in the europa league and obviously celtic probably the biggest club in scotland and uh you pull four goals on them four one was the final score like unbelievable performance walking off that field how did it feel.
00:05:23
Speaker 2: It was great. It was another Europa League appearance of mine. It was the second one. Hopefully gone for the third this week now.
00:05:28
Speaker 1: How good.
00:05:30
Speaker 2: To be honest, with great respect to Celtic, I've got a friend that plays. I've had friends that played there. I thought they were, you know, being told by mates that play in Scotland that they've been a little bit poor recently. So I'm not sure if it's their form. I'm not sure if that's them. But our team is fantastic. I've got to be honest. I think if you See, the last however many games, I think we've always put two past someone. Maybe except the game against Porto, but we were in 10 men as well. That's probably the only game where we only scored less than two goals. Going forward, we're a real threat. And then at the back, we're pretty solid as well, if you think how many men we put forward as well. But yeah, I thought Celtic, obviously watching them in the past in the Champions League, we're not doing really well. I'm not sure if it's a little bit of a moment of theirs. I'm not sure, you know, what the situation is in Scotland. To be honest, I don't watch a single game of Scottish football, so I'm not too sure.
00:06:29
Speaker 1: Yeah, you guys are definitely on the up and they're in a bit of a lull period. I think Rangers pumped them as well earlier this year, their rivals. But back to you, like I said, you guys are in a pretty good run of form. How do you know that you're part of a good team? Like you just told me that you guys are playing every three days, right? So to build confidence and cohesion, chemistry and whatever, Like you need to get minutes on the pitch, passing the ball around, doing maybe a couple of scrimmages or whatnot. But you can't do that right now. So how do you build confidence within yourselves?
00:07:03
Speaker 2: It's actually a really good question. By playing, by winning. That's the only way. The only way is by winning. Because in training, there's not much you can do. Obviously, this week we've had a bigger gap. We've had a seven-day, six-day gap. So, you know, now this week we've had a full week of training. But after this game in Cyprus for the Europa League, we've got every three days a game. Then lots of them are away games. Cyprus is like a five-hour flight. Then we play Santa Clara, which is another three-hour flight. So, but literally the confidence comes from winning, playing together, winning. Little moments. Life, football, the game is made up of many little moments when you can you know, have these good moments, it gives you a real big boost and, you know, boosts everyone around you and gives you confidence for that game and for the ones ahead.
00:07:56
Speaker 1: What's been the biggest adjustment for yourself? Obviously coming from Parma in the Serie A and then going to Benfica, pretty much one of the biggest clubs in Portugal, in Europe. What's been the biggest adjustment? Has it been the pressure, expectation, the quality of football?
00:08:13
Speaker 2: For sure, a little bit of everything. I'd say the biggest one was in Parma was, I was very, I was almost too safe. I was there, I was playing for five, six years. I was probably, I'd probably go into the game knowing, you know, I'd probably play in this game. I didn't really have to earn my position towards the end of my time. Obviously at the start, I did at the start, I was just a young kid that no one really knew, no one really cared about either. So there I had to really earn my position. But then after five years that I had earned it, coming here, You know, a club with players with fantastic qualities. You know, we've got players that have played in the greatest clubs in the world, Barcelona, stuff like that. Coming here and having to earn my spot, having to gain my own respect, really, because I come here with, you know, people. You know, I was just a new player that they signed, but it's not written anywhere that I've got to play a certain amount of minutes for whatever game. So it was sort of coming here. being able to gain the respect from my teammates, from my coach, and then also from the fans because they're quite hectic here, man. Like you have a game, you could have a negative game and they're going to knock you down real quick. It's like they bring you up really quick.
00:09:26
Speaker 1: They knock you down real quick as well. Aren't they all like that? Far out, bro. Fickle, fickle. Do you feel like you're close to establishing yourself at the back there at Benfica?
00:09:37
Speaker 2: Yeah, I think now I've... You know, the last five, six games that I've played, I think I've done quite well. I think the coaches sort of gained a bit of trust in me. And I think now it's, you know, the coach look at the game and he'll decide what's the best, whose characteristics fits the best for the game. Also, playing every three days, I've just mentioned, there's also... a forceful rotation that you have to make. No one can play every game because, you know, injuries and fatigue and stuff like that. So now it's just a fact of continuing to do well and, you know... Just trying to win games, trying to do the best because it's a cruel world out here, man. You don't win a game and it's sort of like you've thrown the season away. I think Benfica for many, many years haven't won the league and that's what they're going for, man. Wherever you go, it's like we've got to win, we've got to win, we've got to win, we've got to win.
00:10:32
Speaker 1: I think the time is close, brother, because I am a Benfica fan. My family is a Benfica fan. So hopefully it's this year. You've got a couple of senior guys playing centre-back alongside you. Have you leaned on them for any advice or anything at all to kind of increase and better your game? For sure.
00:10:53
Speaker 2: I mean, not even off the senior guys, even off the younger players. You can always take a hint out of someone, take a little piece of advice from someone. No matter if they're older or younger, everyone's better at something else than maybe what someone else is. So, you know, trying to pick at everyone's pick everyone's brain a little bit, understanding, you know, everyone's different moments of the game and how someone else may read it can help you playing together, builds lots of chemistry and at the end of the day, you get what, you know, the positive side of things is a better connection between you and your teammate and it makes everything easier.
00:11:27
Speaker 1: Speaking of connection, who have you connected with out of all your teammates? in the dressing room? Like, who's your clique? Who do you hang out with outside of training? Are you a bit of an introvert or extrovert? Like, do you like getting out? Are you a homebody? Tell me a bit about yourself as well.
00:11:42
Speaker 2: Yeah. To be honest, I can be a little of a mix. If I've got enough time, I'm an extrovert. I like to go out. I don't like to stay at all. Like, I need to get out of the house. Regarding when we play so, so often, I need to be home to, like, you know, chill down, relax, wind down a little bit. But then I never end up staying home all day. I'd walk down to a coffee shop, get something to drink. So in that sense, I can change in that sense. I'm not totally to one side or the other. I'm a little bit of a mixture, depending on how my body feels, tiredness and things like that. But then with friends, really, I'm really close with everyone at the minute. Obviously, I'm still new. But I've made some good friendships. Also, one of the new boys I've just arrived after me, I've made a great friendship with them. But yeah, I mean, most of the boys got kids and are married, man. It's pretty crazy.
00:12:41
Speaker 1: Oh, no, no, that's not good for you. Do you have a partner? Do you have a partner?
00:12:47
Speaker 2: Yeah.
00:12:47
Speaker 1: Oh, okay. So you're okay. You're still considered in that category as well.
00:12:51
Speaker 2: Yeah, but not like, you know, most people have got kids and stuff like that. So it's not down my alley at all.
00:13:00
Speaker 1: Yeah, you're still in the age where you want to go out, you know, have a drink, you know, enjoy yourself, go to a nice fancy restaurant. But, you know, these guys, they finish a game or training, they've got to go straight home. Like, they've got no time for doing any of that.
00:13:11
Speaker 2: They've got to pick kids up from school after training.
00:13:14
Speaker 1: Oh! I don't want to think about that, bro. I don't want to think about that. You're far away from that, I'm assuming, but you're far away from that. Yeah.
00:13:22
Speaker 2: That's not on the agenda. Don't worry. That's not on the agenda.
00:13:25
Speaker 1: I have to ask, how do you find– you're in Lisbon, right? Yeah. How are you finding it? As a city.
00:13:30
Speaker 2: I love it. So before coming here, I hadn't been, hadn't really heard much, to be honest. I've heard, you know, my brother visited five, six years ago for three, four days. He said that he really enjoyed it. Coming here, you know what I mean? The people are fantastic, super welcoming. The city itself is like, it's so lively. I didn't expect it. Like I've been to Milan and like, that's lively, but like nothing compared to here. Like I was, When was it? It was a Wednesday at like 7 PM. I went for just a, went for a drive, forgot what I had to do. I went for a drive and I was passing by the city center and I was going literally through the, through the city center.
00:14:12
Speaker 1: Yeah.
00:14:13
Speaker 2: And there's like so many of these little, I don't know, between buildings like these, I don't know what you want to call them. These areas where there's like a little, little bar and there's like a big park, call it a park, call it like a, like a piazza, in Italy they'd call it a piazza, you know, and there'd be hundreds of people just sitting, standing there, sitting there drinking, you know, on a Wednesday at like seven, eight, I'm thinking like, you don't see this anywhere.
00:14:42
Speaker 1: Yeah, it's crazy, it's crazy. I went to Spain last year.
00:14:45
Speaker 2: So lively, yeah.
00:14:47
Speaker 1: Yeah, so like with the piazza, it's like, you know, a big, I guess, courtyard. And then on the perimeter is all.
00:14:53
Speaker 2: The restaurants and cafes. Yeah, that's right, the courtyard.
00:14:55
Speaker 1: Yeah, correct. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And then you've got all the oldies and having a coffee or a cigarette or dinner, obviously on the perimeter. And then inside the piazza will be all the kids playing soccer, football, kicking the ball around, playing tips. Is that your experience as well, is what you're saying?
00:15:10
Speaker 2: Big spot on. There's also ones that are maybe a little bit smaller and they're just like, maybe there's little pebble rocks, things that the whole city is basically made of. And there's literally... a standup kiosk, a standup bar with 200 people, like just around, you know, I was, I was really surprised by that to be honest. Like every, every time I drive, I'm thinking I haven't passed by here. There's still so many people everywhere.
00:15:35
Speaker 1: I saw, um, I think I show speed came to one of the games and he met the president as well. Has he come to training by any chance?
00:15:42
Speaker 2: No, I haven't seen him.
00:15:43
Speaker 1: Oh, okay.
00:15:44
Speaker 2: That'd be cool if he did though. Or do you meet Rua Costa?
00:15:47
Speaker 1: Is he the president or is he the general manager?
00:15:50
Speaker 2: No, Roy Costa's president.
00:15:51
Speaker 1: Well, there you go. Yeah, he met Roy Costa. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
00:15:55
Speaker 2: It's a little bit different. It's like voting. It's a bit like Real Madrid. It's voting-based, how the president works, yeah, because there's not like the one owner.
00:16:04
Speaker 1: Italy's like that, isn't it? Like Italy's got one owner.
00:16:07
Speaker 2: Yeah, Italy's got the one owner or the majority owner, and he's like the, you know.
00:16:13
Speaker 1: Top dog.
00:16:13
Speaker 2: But here's a, you know, it's like a little bit different, and it's like the president is voting-based, and yeah.
00:16:20
Speaker 1: Yeah, beautiful.
00:16:21
Speaker 2: Apparently the voting here broke the record of all sporting president votings in the world as well.
00:16:29
Speaker 1: For Roy?
00:16:30
Speaker 2: The last voting in Costa, yeah.
00:16:32
Speaker 1: Well, he's one of the greats, mate. Obviously played for AC Milan. I'm pretty sure he played for Fiorentina as well.
00:16:38
Speaker 2: Fiorentina, yeah.
00:16:39
Speaker 1: Yeah, Benfica. Benfica. Mate, one of the greats. One of the greats for Portugal. Tell me, what's your go-to restaurant at the moment or coffee shop? Give it a shout-out. Give it a shout-out, bro.
00:16:51
Speaker 2: Yeah, restaurants. So I've been twice to a place called Scene. Okay. It's like a restaurant in the center. It's got like a rooftop as well. It's got, you know, on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday, it's got good vibes as well. It's got like some music. You eat really good food as well. Coffee shops, I'm a big switcher. I like to change. I'm not a person that goes to the same one. I like to, you know, probably every few days change, walk somewhere else, walk somewhere new. try it out and then if it's no good, I'll bin that off and, you know, I keep my good ones and I rotate my good ones.
00:17:25
Speaker 1: Are you like that with your football clubs as well?
00:17:28
Speaker 2: No.
00:17:28
Speaker 1: I don't think so. I don't think so. What's been the hardest part about moving from family to Lisbon? Has it been hard? Have you found, you know, have you been homesick at all?
00:17:44
Speaker 2: Well, my family's still in Perth so I did leave them moving to Italy, but then Italy, I did have some sort of, they'd have family there, not mom and dad, but had family like grandparents, you know, stuff like that. Um, I think it come in a perfect time. Uh, I think I'm old enough now to, you know, be able to do it alone sort of thing. Like obviously they come visit me, mom and dad come visit me, you know, but now I think I'm at a perfect age where I'm, I'm enjoying, you know, being here alone, being, you know, doing, applying my trade in a different country, basically, and, you know, trying new things out, getting out of my comfort zone. Obviously, it's not easy to leave family because, you know, on those rough days, you quick call, you go to their house, eat something. But as I said at the start of this, I'm loving life.
00:18:36
Speaker 1: Were you born in Italy as a baby?
00:18:39
Speaker 2: Yeah, I was born in Italy and then at about one year.
00:18:43
Speaker 1: Yeah, that's right. You left when you were a baby. That's right. You came to Perth, right? which is pretty much another world away.
00:18:50
Speaker 2: Dad played football, played at Glory for about a year in the NSL. He loved it there, returned to Italy and then finished his career in Italy and then was like, all right, we're going back to Perth. So we packed our bags and off we went.
00:19:03
Speaker 1: Was he a defender as well? Yeah. Center back?
00:19:07
Speaker 2: Yeah, exactly the same. Bit of a different style back then.
00:19:10
Speaker 1: That's crazy.
00:19:10
Speaker 2: More like a, you know, just kick everyone you see. But football was a little bit different then.
00:19:17
Speaker 1: I love that. Of course it is. So where do you think, for you personally, where does home sit with you? Like, is it in Italy? Is it in Australia? I know you probably say Australia because you picked them to represent in the World Cup, but you spent most of your life in Italy, right?
00:19:34
Speaker 2: Not really. I lived in Australia for 17 years.
00:19:36
Speaker 1: I lived in Australia in Italy for five.
00:19:40
Speaker 2: Obviously the most recent years of mine were in Italy, but ultimately my home, When I say I want to go home, my home is Perth. That's where I grew up. So where I grew up is home. Obviously, Lisbon is my home now, but in the grand scheme of things, if someone asks me, where are you from? I'm from Perth.
00:20:00
Speaker 1: Did you grow up watching AFL or NRL and other sports out of curiosity?
00:20:05
Speaker 2: I didn't grow up watching them, but I grew up playing them. Actually, I grew up. I used to watch. I didn't used to watch. I went to the Australian Rugby Union first. I think it was South Africa. I was in Perth ages ago. Went to a game like that because mum loves all sports. Our family loves all sports. Not like a big TV watching, but in person. I used to play. I used to have them on my street when I grew up in primary school. I had a family of... I think there was five of them that were from New Zealand and two of them played rugby. Two of the boys played rugby. So we used to play rugby in the backyard. We used to get stuck into it as well. It was quite good. So I grew up playing AFL with some mates at school as well, but always was just for fun in the back garden sort of thing. But then ultimately football was always what I was playing on the weekend for football. from results.
00:21:08
Speaker 1: Well, it's in your blood. We just established that. So the reason I asked about Rugby League is because obviously having a Rugby League background, in Perth, there's like no sign of Rugby League. You know, you've got your AFL, you do have your rugby union as well with the Western Force.
00:21:23
Speaker 2: Western Force.
00:21:24
Speaker 1: That's right, Western Force. But now, we've got the Perth Bears starting up next year, which is going to be a new Rugby League club and the first Rugby League, oh no, the second Rugby League club to ever come to Perth. So, I'm wondering, would you start supporting the Perth Bears since they're starting up now?
00:21:40
Speaker 2: Yeah, I'll start supporting them. Obviously, if you ask me who I support in the NFL, I support the Eagles. I don't know, I just grew up saying we support the Eagles. Obviously, there's a rugby league team in Perth. I'll start supporting them as well. I don't know how the season is yet. If I'm back home, I'll go down and watch a game.
00:22:01
Speaker 1: First game's in March.
00:22:02
Speaker 2: As I said, I like watching. Oh, perfect, because we're off in July anyway.
00:22:07
Speaker 1: Oh, perfect, perfect, perfect.
00:22:08
Speaker 2: Our holidays are June, you know, June, July. As I said, my family loves watching all sports. Mum loves sports, Dad loves sports. I love watching sports, so does my brother. So if I can, I'll get down and have a watch. I haven't watched a rugby league game, though.
00:22:25
Speaker 1: So you've never watched a rugby league game? Never?
00:22:27
Speaker 2: Not live, not live.
00:22:29
Speaker 1: So you've watched like State of Origin, stuff like that?
00:22:31
Speaker 2: Yeah, I've seen it on TV and stuff like that, even when we were in camp. I think, was it in the World Cup when there was the... Origin, yeah, I think Origin was drawn up.
00:22:41
Speaker 1: Yeah, it was. Yeah, it was. Yeah, yeah, it was. It was, yeah, yeah.
00:22:44
Speaker 2: Yeah, I think it was. And so a few of the boys had that going. But I've never watched it live. I've only watched the Wallabies versus Springboks.
00:22:53
Speaker 1: Springboks is Rugby Union. That's South Africa.
00:22:55
Speaker 2: Yeah, it was them. Yeah, it was him. It was him. That's the one that I watched in Perth. It was Australia versus South Africa.
00:23:00
Speaker 1: Well, brother, if you want to go to a rugby league game, just give me a call, man. I'll hook you up, bro. I'll hook you up, you know. Peter Volandes is a good mate to me, the chairman of the NRL.
00:23:13
Speaker 2: Ah.
00:23:13
Speaker 1: Did you watch the AFL Graf final? Freo versus Brisbane? Yeah, good that you didn't. Good that you didn't because it didn't end well for Freo.
00:23:25
Speaker 2: Oh, yeah, no, um, We were actually flying. We had the game against Brazil and we were flying from Townsville to Brisbane.
00:23:31
Speaker 1: Yeah, that's right.
00:23:33
Speaker 2: And I think it was, oh no, yeah, because I sat next to one of the staff and they had it on the phone as we were taking off and I would have watched the first 10 minutes, you know, seven, eight minutes. And then as we've taken off, you know, as you can see, the more than we landed, it was finished and we saw, you know, where everything happened and we were literally in Brisbane as well. So the next day we had the, Or two days after. I think the day of the, what do they have? The little, the parade. I think we played the night of the parade.
00:24:06
Speaker 1: Oh, gotcha. Gotcha.
00:24:08
Speaker 2: So it was full of people with Brisbane gear on walking around the city that morning. So yeah, but no, don't watch it.
00:24:15
Speaker 1: Since you already brought it up about the Brazilian friendly, how was that game for yourself? How'd you find it? I know one of them was a bad result, but. The first game, you obviously drew 1-1, so you were drawing a lot of confidence out of that game.
00:24:28
Speaker 2: Yeah.
00:24:29
Speaker 1: Tell me about it overall.
00:24:31
Speaker 2: Yeah, it was a great experience. I mean, playing against Brazil, it's such a cool thing to do. It's a bit of an iconic national team in itself. Being able to play at home in Australia, also a bonus. But, I mean, it was really good to... The whole setup was organized really, really well. The only thing, you know, was a pitch in Townsville was a little bit of a, but, you know, that's okay. The one in Brisbane was fantastic, you know, full stadium. We trained the day before and there was like 7,000 people there as well. That's crazy. So, you know, it was crazy. It's good to see that finally Australia's getting to back a little bit of football because in the past it's, you know, from what I've seen, from what I've witnessed as well, it's been a little bit of, You know, it's like, because I play here, so I see how everyone lives it and how everyone, you know, every game at our stadium, we've got, you know, 65, 70,000. So I see how people live the game in Italy as well. And then going to Australia, playing games and, In the past, you know, it's just like we're in two different worlds here. But I finally got that feeling back from the game in Brisbane, which is also from Townsville, which was really good. Did you swap your jersey with anyone?
00:25:56
Speaker 1: Yeah, I did.
00:25:57
Speaker 2: I swapped the first game with Vinny. I swapped the second with Andrew.
00:26:02
Speaker 1: That is so good. Listen, I hate rubbishing blokes, but One guy that's drawn a lot of attention and received a lot of headlines lately is Vinny Jr. Is it true? Is he a clone? Is he a clone? Like, what's going on there? I'm not going to take responsibility for that question.
00:26:27
Speaker 3: I thought you were asking about him on the field. Nah, I don't know where these conspiracies even come from. I don't even know why they're thinking that.
00:26:38
Speaker 1: Oh, man, listen, like.
00:26:40
Speaker 2: But he got, like, his jaw done. That, like, it's known to everyone that he got that done, but.
00:26:46
Speaker 1: I don't think he needed to. I don't think he needed to, bro. I thought it was a good-looking bloke. Like, I don't know why he got the jawline done or the beard done, whatever it was, man. It looked so different.
00:26:55
Speaker 2: Yeah, I asked someone that as well, and apparently in Brazil it's quite a popular thing. Oh.
00:27:02
Speaker 2: I forgot who told me, but they did mention to me that in Brazil it's not like out of the ordinary to get that done.
00:27:12
Speaker 1: Just like getting your butt done. Oh, man. I just had to ask it. This guy is just fading me. Let me say it again. I'm not going to ask you. So, just to confirm, you played against a real Vinny Jr., not the clone. Just to confirm for everyone.
00:27:39
Speaker 2: I think, I think. I mean, he moved to the real one. He moved like the real one.
00:27:43
Speaker 1: Bro, I just think, like everyone, like, you know, you go through, you know, stumps in form, you know, peaks of form. So, I think he's just in a bit of a slump at the moment. And I think he's really copping out Real Madrid. But hopefully, we'll get the real Vinny soon, man. Do you miss Australia by any chance? The lifestyle, the food, the culture? Do you miss it?
00:28:04
Speaker 2: Yeah.
00:28:04
Speaker 1: Or is it a bit of a....
00:28:06
Speaker 2: So after the games in Brazil, I actually got three days to go back home to Perth, which I love doing. I spent time with my friends. Funny thing, my parents were actually in Italy at the time. So I went home and I didn't see my parents. I saw them beforehand in Italy. And in Portugal, they were here with me. I went back, spent time with my friends, which is probably the thing I miss the most about Australia, to be honest. Spent time with mum and dad, but lucky enough they come visit me here in Portugal as well. But spent time with friends, going down to the beach, going down getting a coffee on the beach, on the waterfront is something that I love doing, which I'm lucky enough to be able to do it also here in Portugal because we've got a great beach here. But yeah, that's probably what I miss the most. The lifestyle is amazing. I do see myself settling down in Perth after after football. Obviously, I can't 100% say that I will because you don't know what brings you on in the future, whether if it's coaching or if it's other jobs or whatever. But asking me now, I do see a future living in Perth because I do love the lifestyle. The weather's fantastic as well.
00:29:20
Speaker 1: You know what? Just one second. It's getting really hot in here. Far out. Just need to take this jacket off. Oh, yeah. Yeah. Let me just take this jacket off, boys, and get this.
00:29:32
Speaker 2: Oh, have a look at it, mate.
00:29:34
Speaker 1: Have a look at it, boys.
00:29:35
Speaker 3: Have a look at that.
00:29:42
Speaker 1: Shout out to Adam Dewey for getting it for me when he was in Portugal. But yeah, bro, like I said, I'm an eagle through and through, through and through. Now, I just want to get the shovel out, dig a bit more with your time in Benfica. Take me back to the time when you found out that Benfica were interested in you.
00:30:01
Speaker 2: Oh, that's a funny story. I was with, I was driving back from the, we had a day off in Italy. We had a cup game, I think it was. We had the day off after. I drove down to the beach. I actually had my best mate from Australia with me. He was in the back, he was in the car. We're driving, I get a call from my, and it was raining. It was raining so much and we were stuck in traffic. So I was like, we're fuming because it was raining so much. It was stuck in traffic. Like, I was on the highway. I was like, this is taking an hour more than what it should be. Torture. It was horrible. Anyway, I'm in the car. I get a call from my agent. I'm like, what's he calling me? Is he going to call me? How are you doing? That sort of stuff because usually these things build quite slowly. It's like, oh, there's a little bit of interest. We'll see. He called me. I picked up the phone. Hello. He goes, I think I'm putting an offer for you. They want you there in three days' time. I was like, hold up.
00:31:00
Speaker 1: What?
00:31:00
Speaker 2: He's like, yeah, the sport director just called me. He wants, he wants you there on, on Wednesday. And that was the Sunday. And I'm like, right. So I was like, well, it's actually going through. He goes, well, we're going to present to Palm. I think there's, you know, I think there's a, um, the offer, the first offer they're going to make, there's going to be, you know, a little bit of back and forth, but I think in, in the end we'll, we'll find an agreement. Um, the starting, you know, offer was, was, wasn't, you know, to, to shy away from. Um, literally like that and then that night um caused me again he goes it's getting further so we start discussing personal terms wow and then he's like yeah all right they want you to fly tuesday night and this was like sunday night monday morning i was not sleeping at all i'd you know i was i had so much going on having to pack my stuff not sure whether to pack it because some people say it's bad luck to pack your stuff before it's actually confirmed so i'm like I'm not going to pack it, but I'm going to visually prepare everything. Mum's sorting everything out. The clubs had a little bit of issues over some funds. So that held us back a bit, held us back a few hours. So for a few hours, it was all stored. And they started going again. And then I had to train Tuesday morning in Parma, obviously. the coaching staff, obviously they didn't know, you know, what was happening. They, they sort of told them, you know, there's, there's a possibility, but nothing had been confirmed. So I'd gone then thinking, right, do I train fully today? Do I go easy? Like, do I, you know, not risk anything? Like, do I tell my friends that maybe I'm not going to see them tomorrow? Like, it's all like what, you're not sure what to do. Cause you know, I'm not going to tell you I'm leaving, but then tomorrow and the next day I'm still here. Um, um, So then I sort of kept on the low. No one really knew. Finished training. I got a call and they said, that's all been done. You're going to fly tonight. So then I finished training. Obviously, I knew. I had spoken to the coach before training. I told him, look, there's a good possibility. Can I, you know, today just don't include me in everything. Keep me, you know, sort of quite passive. He's like, no problem at all. He was He's got the sack recently, but I've only got positive words from him. He was amazing. He gave me great trust in me, and I gave it in him as well.
00:33:22
Speaker 1: Who was your coach again? At Parma? Carlos Cuesta.
00:33:25
Speaker 2: Carlos Cuesta. It was his first coaching experience as a first team. He was the assistant coach of Arteta Arsenal.
00:33:35
Speaker 1: Oh, wow. Okay. Yeah.
00:33:37
Speaker 2: We'll take him back. I'd finished training. I'd gone into his office and I'd told him, I was like, look, I've just been told that I'm probably going to leave. And, you know, he was so happy for me, selfishly. He's like, I'm not happy, but ultimately I'm very happy for you. Had a shower, got changed, said bye to everyone so quickly, got my boots, got the stuff I had to get. And off I went home and started packing my bags.
00:34:01
Speaker 1: See, that's crazy to me. Like you said before, you spent six years at Parma, you know, pretty much a club where you establish yourself as a football player, a professional football player. And then just like that, you're gone.
00:34:14
Speaker 2: That's two days. Two days, you're not part of it anymore.
00:34:21
Speaker 1: How do you just dissociate with that? You were just at this club. You've got so much emotion and connection with it. And then just like that, you're gone. Did you not struggle with that as a player?
00:34:33
Speaker 2: It is quite stressful. I think in four days, I lost five kilos. I arrived here. And I weighed myself and I was 81 kilos. And I haven't been 81 kilos since I'm 16. Wow. I'm 1.90 meters. 81 kilos, that's really low. I haven't been that way ever since I've been a pro. And I arrived here and that's how I weighed that much. I didn't actually know. I'm like, look, I haven't slept. I haven't eaten. I had no appetite at all because everything happened so quickly. I was sort of you know, stressing that things weren't going to happen, that they were going to happen, but then I'm having to say bye to everyone and then packing my stuff. And then, you know, it's, there's, there's so much going on and, you know, it's not, it's not around the corner. It's not like I'm moving from, from Palma to, you know, another Italian city where it's a two hour drive, you know, it's a, it's a three hour flight. Um, so it is quite crazy. And, you know, it's, it's a part of life and you sort of got to move on, you know, um, I'm not sure how it is in other sports, how it is in rugby league, if things like that happen so, so quickly or if it's, you know, a bit of a slow process, but here was really fast, man. As I've just told you, two and a half days and I was out.
00:35:45
Speaker 1: And you're in another country living. That's it, done.
00:35:49
Speaker 2: Yeah, literally. Got arrived here with two suitcases. Obviously, there's a company that's going to move, that had moved, was moving all my stuff, but In two days, I had to give my card to my brother, say, all right, you've got to go sell that for me, cancel my apartment leasing in Italy, all that sort of stuff.
00:36:11
Speaker 1: Where's Parma located in Italy again?
00:36:14
Speaker 2: Between Milan and Bologna. To the north, but south of Milan.
00:36:19
Speaker 1: Okay, beautiful. Were there any other clubs in Italy that were interested in you or any other clubs in the world that you were close to signing with other than Benfica?
00:36:28
Speaker 2: So there was lots of voices, lots of, you know, oh, we're interested. We're going to, you know, we'll probably make a move if we get to sell this player. So it's often like everything's a bit of a knock-on effect. But if a club's telling you, you know, we can make a move if this player's sold, it's like, well, how do I know you're going to get rid of him? How do I know he's going to leave? Like my future relies on his hands. Like you sort of got to sort yourself out and do what's the best for you. So it's, and everything happens in the last five days of the transfer window as well. I think like 90% of the transfers, 95% of the transfers happened in the last week to five days. But then as soon as I got the call from Benfica, I couldn't turn it down. I know what the club is. I know the history it has. I know how much it tries to win any competition it's in. I know the development of the players as well. It's not the big thing. They develop players. Extraordinary. So many great players have gone through lots of players have used it to finish their careers, to have the prime of their careers, or even to use it as a passage to whatever happens in the future. But I was told by my agent as well, it's like when you go there, you'll know that you're there. It's not forgotten. You're not just a random person. Yeah.
00:37:51
Speaker 1: Because I remember reading about the reports on you about moving into a club like PSG. atletico madrid ac milan i'm pretty sure as well and i was like like i could just imagine like reading that in your shoes like what that must feel like you know what i mean like yeah it's easy to um to get carried away and you know um get comfortable especially when you um and obviously your ego lifts as well when you're reading those those names but was there any interest from ac milan by any chance as well because your family are all ac milan supporters right Yeah.
00:38:29
Speaker 2: So it was actually all during the World Cup, so there was a lot of– I don't know what was totally– because there was so much being written at that point, I stopped actually being interested in what was being read. I kept getting told by the coaching staff during the World Cup, they'd wake up in the morning, they'd be like, oh, look, a new club with your name written on it. I'm like, what's tomorrow? Today is this club, what's going to be tomorrow? I was waking up, going to breakfast, and the coaching staff were telling me this, and I was like, I was like, what's been released today?
00:38:56
Speaker 1: I remember Harrington was linked to Barca as well at one point. I was like, fuck, we're out.
00:39:02
Speaker 2: Links all over the place, which you never know unless you fully dig in. But I wasn't there to– I was playing at the World Cup. I was trying to enjoy what I was doing, really live the moment. So I wasn't too invested in that sort of stuff. And it was still very early, you know. One good game makes you be linked to the best club in the world. One bad game, no one wants you anymore. That's a bit of football. Regarding the family, being AC Milan supporters, yeah, they are. When we played them in the Europa League, my uncle actually turned up to the game with an AC Milan scarf. He put my auntie in a Socceroos scarf and he came in an AC Milan scarf and then they took a photo at the front of the stadium and he AI'd all my family, including mom and dad, with AC Milan kits on. And he sent it to me. And it looked so real. And I was thinking, there's no way. I was like, there's no way all of them are AC Milan kits. It was easily 12, 12 of my family members, my brother, my brother's wife, everyone in AC Milan kits. I'm thinking, nah, this can't be real. And he's AI'd all AC Milan kits on them.
00:40:14
Speaker 1: I appreciate the commitment by the effort. fucking hell ai is scary bro ai is very scary tell me about the moment you met roy costa um obviously a legend of the club uh legend of football in itself uh just seeing you holding up that bedfinger jersey alongside him what did that moment feel like for you far out.
00:40:34
Speaker 2: Yeah it was it was great i felt like you know i'd achieved something really important in my in my life in my career at a young age um Obviously, for my brother and my dad as well, it was a great experience for them. They grew up AC Milan fans, probably bigger AC Milan fans than what I was. They grew up, you know, for their whole life, me, you know, when you start playing football, you sort of, you don't really support anyone. But they've grown up. My brother had an AC Milan scarf in the back of his car until four years ago, three years ago. And they probably got to watch Rucosta play. Me, I was a little bit younger. I probably don't remember much. So for them, it was, you know, meeting him, even I think that dad didn't mention it was like, you know, it was a, it was like a full circle experience watching him, you know, play in the stadium on the TV for, for his, you know, for AC Milan when AC Milan was, was the best team in the world. They, they, the plays they had, they had, I'm not even going to mention the names because I might have to go through 2020 names, but, yeah, it was, it was, it was a great experience to, you know, that was the day we signed as well. So I'd finished my medicals, um, Went up to the stadium. He's got an office in the stadium. Spent a little bit of time there, done all the rest of the paperwork, took photos for the media and everything. So it was good.
00:41:52
Speaker 1: Incredible, man. What did you talk about?
00:41:57
Speaker 2: Oh, so when we walked in, it was, you know, just a normal conversation. Dad was like, just so you know, like our family. Because dad's dad, my grandfather used to, you know, be in the active supporters of AC Milan for years. 20, 30, 40 years.
00:42:13
Speaker 1: No way. He was an ultra.
00:42:15
Speaker 2: Yeah, he was. He was like, he was like, well, you know, the guys that would go there and probably start beating people up as well.
00:42:23
Speaker 1: That is, that's unbelievable. No way.
00:42:26
Speaker 2: He used to go with his brother and they, they're big fellas as well. So my granddad and his brother, they're, they're, they're big boys. Um, and they were, you know, they were in the thick of it. Um, when they were, when they were younger, um, And so dad walked in and met him and he's like, just so you know, like, it's a great honor, you know, where my whole family, my dad, yeah, brother's big AC Milan fans. So, yeah.
00:42:52
Speaker 1: What an incredible experience. What an incredible experience. You actually, full circle, you end up playing against Milan in the Europa League and.
00:43:03
Speaker 2: That's when my uncle... AI and all the AC Milan kids.
00:43:08
Speaker 1: Yeah, but like, it wasn't just a game, bro. Like, let's not hide, like, let's not, you know, steer away from the fact that you just beat them 2-0. Like, let's talk about the result as well. Like, 2-0. Like, unbelievable performance.
00:43:19
Speaker 2: And it was my first start for Benfica as well.
00:43:21
Speaker 1: Exactly. Exactly. That's what I want to highlight. Like, yeah, I know we spoke about the family, but let's bring the attention back to you in the game. 2-0, you beat AC Milan. Were you an AC Milan supporter growing up as well?
00:43:34
Speaker 2: Growing up, yeah. When I started playing a Football, it died off by nature.
00:43:39
Speaker 1: Of course.
00:43:40
Speaker 2: But growing up, you know, dad was an AC Milan fan. My brother was. So, you know, they were gifting me AC Milan kits for my birthday.
00:43:48
Speaker 1: But the significance of that game, like, you know, your professional career starts in Italy. You're an AC Milan supporter. Like, you move away to a big club like Benfica. You end up playing the club that you grew up watching and idolizing, not only you, but your whole family watching. And to come away with a 2-0 win, like, tell me about that moment for you and your family. Like, I have to dig deeper here.
00:44:12
Speaker 2: That was, for me, I speak for myself, it was, it never, I didn't feel so good to win a game ever. You know, as much as, you know, I know I've probably, you know, my grandfather watches every AC Milan game. If you sit at his house, he's insulting every player, saying that, you know, every time they make a bad pass, he's insulting them. So I hope for my pride that he was insulting them that game as well. He was cheering for me, but he was doing the same thing, I hope. It never felt so good to win a game, especially being back in Italy after I'd just left, literally after three weeks. Yeah, it was sick. First start for Benfica, my first Europa League game. Such an important one as well because You know, you look at Benfica and AC Milan, you're thinking, oh, that's not a Europa League game. That's a Champions League game.
00:45:05
Speaker 1: For sure.
00:45:07
Speaker 2: So, yeah, so it was, you know, I hadn't felt a better feeling to get a win than that with a club especially. And then for my family, I know how much it meant for my family. You know, dad was there and he probably, you know, he's one that probably lived the whole transfer window closest to me. He was, you know, always getting asked things, reading all the things, calling me. He was like, I just focus on what you're doing. There's a World Cup. Like, this is like, you know, this could happen. It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. You've got to live the moment really well, play your best football, and then we'll see everything that happens after.
00:45:44
Speaker 1: I love that.
00:45:47
Speaker 2: Yeah.
00:45:47
Speaker 1: Your granddad would have been in the stands with his walking stick beating the shit out of Benfica supporters or something.
00:45:53
Speaker 2: If it was five years ago, he would have been with his walkie-talkie poking Benfica fans. Now he's at home on a wheelchair, but I know for sure he was growling at the TV just like he does every game.
00:46:10
Speaker 1: I love that, bro. I want to throw something out and not disrespecting Benfica, but the biggest clubs in the world, if you could pick one to ever play at and experience, running out on their pitch, who would it be? Wow. That's a tough question.
00:46:27
Speaker 2: I know.
00:46:27
Speaker 1: You probably wouldn't even think of it because you're living in the moment right now. You're in such a great position.
00:46:34
Speaker 2: I'm having to really think of it now. I've always loved to play in London. That's always been a– that's a dream of mine ever since I'm.
00:46:48
Speaker 1: A young– Which team in London? Be careful. Be careful. Because I don't know if you know much about me, but there is a team I support that are in London.
00:46:57
Speaker 2: I'm thinking Red Benfica Arsenal.
00:46:59
Speaker 1: Yeah, I can see. There it is, bro. There it is right there. So he knows. He knows.
00:47:05
Speaker 2: My dream ever since I was young has always, when I was, you know, 12, 13, 14, if you ask me, you know, what's your biggest dream? It was to play in London. Chelsea, Arsenal, you know, all the teams. So to sort of make my... my younger dream come true, it would have to be that.
00:47:23
Speaker 1: But you know, when you were a kid as well, like you dream big, right? Like you dream about playing on those bright lights, the big stadiums, the big clubs, the names around, like around you as well. Like you're a kid at that point. So there's no real perspective, right? You don't know how much effort and hard work actually it takes to get to where you are now. But where you are now, like the confidence that you have, like if you were to set a goal for yourself, man, I don't know, let's just pluck a team out of the air. Real Madrid, right? Yeah. Do you have so much confidence now as a player that you can achieve the best of the best with where you are now?
00:47:58
Speaker 2: Yeah. Yeah, I know from where I am now how good Benfica is, the calibre of the club. Every door in the world is open for me. We've seen it in the past from Benfica. People have had the best careers here. careers here playing at Benfica. People have used it as a pathway to play for Real Madrid, Barcelona, Chelsea, Arsenal, Man City, PSG, Juventus, Milan, Inter. I could name every team, but people have always come out of this club being great players. Obviously, you've got to work really hard here. I've got to be focused on what I'm doing. I feel like I'm giving my all here. And, you know, time will tell if it's meant for me to go play elsewhere. You know, that's what will happen. But ultimately, I'm so happy here and I'm loving life here and I'm loving the football here and I'm loving the club and the fans. And I can't thank everyone for the support that I've been getting, all the messages I've been getting as well.
00:49:06
Speaker 1: Amazing, brother. I know I said earlier that it was only going to be a 30, 40-minute chat. We are so over that at the moment. But I have to keep you a bit longer if you don't mind. I know it's almost nine o'clock there, bro. I appreciate it. Sorry, bro. Sorry. I know you need your beauty sleep and obviously to get up in the morning for training, but just a little bit longer. We have to talk about the World Cup. Have to talk about it. What an experience over in the USA, getting to obviously the next round, got out of the pool stage. What was the whole moment like for yourself and the team? Because I remember you speaking about as well that, It's not a soccer team that you just rule them out. You wouldn't think they'll compete. But every game you guys played in, you guys competed to the final minute. And there was always a strong belief in, you know what, they could win this game. They could win this game. Do you feel that now as a player?
00:49:58
Speaker 2: Yeah, for sure. I do think that, obviously, the players that we've got now– I'm not going to name names because I'm going to miss someone out and it's not going to be nice.
00:50:07
Speaker 1: Oh, there's so many. Toure, Irukunda, yourself. I can keep going.
00:50:11
Speaker 2: Christian, Bossy, Lucas.
00:50:13
Speaker 1: Christian, of course.
00:50:14
Speaker 2: Harry, Paddy, all the boys in the middle.
00:50:17
Speaker 1: Golden generation. Golden generation.
00:50:20
Speaker 2: I mean, everyone's so young, so I wouldn't– I think this is– personally, this is a big statement, but I think this is going to be the biggest and the best– Socceroos team that has ever been. Give us three, four years and I think we'll be playing at our primes around 27, 28 years old. I don't think Australia has ever had a team like this again. Thanks to all the boys making good moves, playing in good clubs, playing regularly is so important. It's only on the rise, really.
00:50:58
Speaker 1: Did you have a decision to make to represent Italy or Australia?
00:51:02
Speaker 2: Yeah. I did play for Italy youth teams. I actually played with Christian.
00:51:06
Speaker 1: That's right. I spoke to him about that.
00:51:08
Speaker 2: Yes.
00:51:09
Speaker 1: Yeah.
00:51:09
Speaker 2: So I was up. I was playing with Italy, I think, about six months before Christian. And then he had come in. His first camp, he was actually rooming with me. We were rooming together. You know, it was a bit weird, like two Aussie boys with the He turned the national team up. It was so, so strange.
00:51:30
Speaker 1: Sick.
00:51:32
Speaker 2: Yeah. And then, you know, I was playing there. I just didn't feel right, really. Like, it was simple as that. Like, I was playing there. I was enjoying playing there. But I kind of felt a bit forced. Like, I wouldn't, you know, international break would come up and I wouldn't go like, yes, like, you know, I'm going with Italy to go here. You know, I was just like, oh, yeah, sort of like, you know, I've got to go, so I've got to go. Um, and then, you know, after a few chats, spoke with Gigi, stuff like this with, you know, with other players and they were like, you know, to go play with, with, with a national team, your national team, whether it's Italy or Australia or whoever it is, has to be like, you know, one of the biggest pride someone can have. And for sure. So I was like, you know, I don't think I'm in the right place cause I'm not feeling this. I'm not feeling this, this sort of attachment. Um, so then I, I'd called Graeme Arnold at the time, the coach. He had contacted me and he was like, whenever you feel like, if it happens, when it happens, just feel free to give me a call. So I'd called him after the season had ended and I'd gone, Graeme, I'm ready to make the switch. I'm not perfectly happy where I am here. I don't feel like I'm playing for my national team. I want to play for and represent Australia. And that comes with so many more problems with the travel and stuff like this. I did know that. It makes life much harder. Travelling is longer, jet lag, things like this. But ultimately now every time there's a national team break, national team game, national team camp, I can't wait to go and camp with the boys, spend some time, have a laugh around with them. Because we all grew up the same. We're all Aussie boys and or of the sort of the same band to share the same, you know, same humour as well. So it's great.
00:53:31
Speaker 1: I remember there was a photo taken with you and Christian. I think you played each other earlier this year. I think it was in April or maybe May.
00:53:41
Speaker 2: The last game before the World Cup.
00:53:43
Speaker 1: That's right. There you go. He played in Panama.
00:53:46
Speaker 2: That's when he told me that I knew that he was coming to Australia before at all. So he had messaged me before that I'd spoken to him after the game and he's like, I'm going to try, because FIFA is a long process and, you know, no one really knew this process was going on, but he had told me that it was, you know, it was in the process, it was in the works and we were hoping that it was going to get over the line and he managed to, so it was good.
00:54:11
Speaker 1: Do you guys remember what you spoke about after the game?
00:54:14
Speaker 2: It was literally that. He goes, do you think he will be able to get it over the line for the World Cup? And I was like, look, It all depends how fast they can do it. There's still a month to the World Cup, three weeks to the World Cup, so time is in your hands. I think it should be enough time, but there's no likely it's going to take this long. So speaking about that, we're probably in contact every day after that. Is there an update? Is there an update? Is there an update?
00:54:46
Speaker 1: Is there an update?
00:54:48
Speaker 2: When it sort of got more finalized. So he flew back. He was flying back to Sydney as everything was getting finalized because he had to get his Australian passport done as well. And then I think when he literally the day he was flying to Sydney, he got the approval. We had to sign the paper. And after two days, he got his passport. He was in LA with us.
00:55:08
Speaker 1: So it was good. You said it was an easy decision for you to represent Australia because it does feel like home to you. It is home to you. but what about that decision? What ramifications did that have with your family being all Italian? Was that a hard conversation?
00:55:23
Speaker 2: Um, to be honest, dad is super, my family was super supportive of it. Um, dad was like, that's how you feel it. That's totally what you got to do. Like, just, you know, there's, these are the, the bad effects that this will have, you know, as I mentioned, all the travel and stuff like this. Um, You know, for example, my brother, who's eight years older than me, I was asking him, like, if you were a football player, who would you represent? And he goes, Italy, because he lived nine years in Italy. So he grew up basically in Italy, and his first language was Italian. My first language was English. So he grew up, you know, with thinking that, you know, he's Italian. He went to Australia, I'm Italian. I went to Australia, you know, background Italian, but, you know, I'm Australian. Um, so it was quite weird. Like if you ask my older brother, he would, he would say the opposite. Um, but I mean the whole family is super supportive. They're probably happy for me. It didn't even make the world cup. So they're probably even happier that they managed to watch a world cup. My parents, they got to go to a world cup.
00:56:26
Speaker 1: A hundred percent. A hundred percent. How good is that? Um, talk about the opportunity where you got to wear the captain's armband for Australia that moment, like very young. Uh, did you feel like you were ready? Do you, was that a lot of pressure on your shoulders? I don't know. I feel like your personality, like you actually embrace pressure quite well. Like, you know, it doesn't really get to you. Is that fair to say?
00:56:47
Speaker 2: Yeah. Yeah. It was just spot on. Um, I think that's, you know, one of my, one of my traits is the, I don't, I'm not going to say I don't feel pressure, but I'm not, uh, not affected at all by pressure. Um, it doesn't, you know, get the better of me ever. Um, but it was great. So it was actually, it was a bit of a funny story. Um, I'm not sure if I'm actually allowed to share, but I think I can.
00:57:10
Speaker 1: Share it, bro. If we're going to cut it out, we'll cut it out, Kaz. We'll cut it out.
00:57:14
Speaker 2: We'll cut it out. The game before, I'd gotten a knock on my knee. And I was feeling really like quite sore. I wasn't able to extend my knee fully because it was my ACL knee as well. And then, you know, the game was in three, four days' time and I was training and I was barely moving, so. What happened was there was a training, you know, with our GPS people doing like, there was a quite a very light session and the light session would be like four Ks of training, four kilometers in total of running distance. And I think I had done like 1.8. Wow. Because I hadn't moved because I was so sore. And then I get caught into the boss's office. I get a message in the morning. The boss wants to speak to me. Okay. I've gone in and first thing he's done, he's taken out the GPS data in front of me and he's gone. Look, I've gone, ah, yeah, sorry. And then he's gone like, what am I supposed to do with this? Like if people, the boys come to me and tell me like, you know, why, why is Ale playing? And I'm not, but he doesn't, you know, I did mention the physio did know that I wasn't feeling great. You know, I had a knock and, you know, it was quite, it was in my ACL and he was a little bit sensitive, you know, it was just a year after my, my surgery as well. So it wasn't that long. Yeah.
00:58:33
Speaker 1: It's fresh.
00:58:35
Speaker 2: Yeah, and then somebody's going, yeah, okay. All right, go, bye. I was like, all right, bye. So I've left the office. Anyway, that afternoon, again, the boss wants to speak to you. Okay, go to the boss. I was like, what is he going to tell me now? What else have I done, mate? You know, what else have I done? I may have done something else wrong and he's going to tell me. And so I've gone to the office. He's got a big smile, gives me a big hug, and I'm like, all right, there you go. How would you feel if I make you captain? And I'm like, I'm just like shocked, you know, after whatever. heard this morning, I'm thinking that I'm not even going to play. And he's gone. I think I'm going to make you captain.
00:59:15
Speaker 1: How do you feel?
00:59:16
Speaker 2: I'm like, that's amazing. I was like, that'd be like, you know, one of my biggest dreams to be able to do it at 21 years old. Well, I think I was 21. I was like, that's been my biggest dream to do it at 21 years old, you know. And he's going, you're going to be captain for the game tomorrow. And, you know, I was so happy, like, to be able to do it at a young age. And I felt like I was ready because I had captain partner as well. So it wasn't like the first time captaining a team, but to be honest, captaining a national team is a little bit different, but you know, still sort of the, sort of the same routine. You sort of, you've got a few jobs to do and, you know, I've done them in the past. I was ready in that, in that sense, but, you know, it was all sort of a, sort of a rollercoaster. I was like, I'm not going to play, you know, because you've got anger in me because I've got a knock and I hadn't trained really well because I hadn't moved much and, you know, and then he told me I'm captain so I'm just like, my emotions are a bit of a rollercoaster going everywhere and I was just so happy. First thing I did was call mum and dad. I told them, um, But I didn't tell anyone else. He told me to keep it between me and him, and that's exactly what I did. I called mum and dad, rightly so, and I let them know, and that's it. No one else knew.
01:00:32
Speaker 1: Was the boss at the time Papa?
01:00:35
Speaker 2: Yeah.
01:00:36
Speaker 1: Yeah, beautiful. What's the biggest difference between playing for your club and representing Australia for you?
01:00:46
Speaker 2: It's a little bit different. I feel like here I'm representing... The Benficistas, people like you, people like the fans here. But then representing a nation, you're sort of representing where you come from, your roots, like your school, things like that. That's probably the biggest difference. It's a little bit closer to home. The national team feels a little bit, you know.
01:01:11
Speaker 1: Does it mean more?
01:01:12
Speaker 2: More sensitive, closer to home. Yeah. But, you know, representing Benfica, Benfica has more pressure, I've got to be honest. You do feel more pressure, you know, I think because the main reason that is playing for Australia, you know, we haven't had much support at all and so the expectation for us isn't really, you know, ever so high. I wish it was higher. I'm the first person to say I wish people, you know, would hate us if we lose, if we lose games. I wish people wanted us to win every game, would back us, would cheer us when we win and boo us when we lose. But, um, It's not the case in Australia, for us at least. And obviously here, you do feel that. So there is more pressure playing here. And I hope that the pressure I have here will be felt by all the boys in the national team over time to come as well.
01:02:02
Speaker 1: Let me tell you, when we were there, we went to every game. I've never felt more connected to Aussies ever in my life. It was an incredible experience. We were with Aussies from Perth, Adelaide, Brisbane, Sydney. And we were having a drink together. We were cheering together. We've been best mates our whole life. It was an incredible experience. experience as a fan uh i don't know if you i don't know what you players felt uh when you saw the fans turn up yeah.
01:02:26
Speaker 2: It was so seeing all the yellows yeah big yellow big yellow sectors like it feels like this touching touching your heart feels really close to home like it's when someone insults you and it's like really close to home that's what it felt like they were supporting us really close to home.
01:02:43
Speaker 1: Bro, that Turkey game, I'm not even kidding. I almost cried after that game. I could like– I don't know. Like I was overcome with emotion. Like it was– like going into that game, like you're talking about like the pressure and like the fans not really giving us that much hope in progressing out of that pool stage. But especially that game, like Turkey were heavy favorites. They were probably underdogs to win the tournament. But to come out and to absolutely dominate it from the first minute, And to win a 2-0 game against them, like it was an incredible experience and an incredible game, an incredible moment for Australian soccer or football. What was that feeling like after that game? I remember you walking towards us and all of you guys were just like looking. I don't even know if you knew that moment and how significant it was.
01:03:33
Speaker 2: Yeah, you try to embrace it, but there's so much going on and you've got to sort of like, and be like, this isn't going to happen forever. This happened maybe three times, four times, five times every four years if you're lucky, if you're in the squad, if you're healthy, if you make it to the World Cup. I was so excited after that game. I don't even know. I found a ball. It was the match ball. I grabbed the ball and I ran to our fans and I kicked it. I don't know if I'm allowed to do that. I wasn't sure if I was going to get fined. I didn't know what was going to happen, but I did it because I was so happy and so excited. Yeah, I found a ball and I picked it up and I ran to the other side of the field and I kicked it into a yellow wall of fans. Just purely out of excitement. I didn't ask anyone if I'm allowed to. It was like, is this our ball, their ball? Whose ball is this? I just went and did it and it was purely out of excitement, out of being able to really connect the country through a match of football because that's what I really felt that we did.
01:04:32
Speaker 1: And you came for the Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia next year? Yeah. Good chance, man. Very good chance.
01:04:38
Speaker 2: I want to try and win it. I think that our expectation should be to try and win it. I hope people put that expectation on us as well. Yeah, 100%.
01:04:48
Speaker 1: Irenkunda, your teammate, or countryman teammate, fellow countryman. He's obviously at Sporting Lisbon, rivals to Benfica. And I want to know, when you come up against Irenkunda... You got to go easy on him or?
01:05:08
Speaker 2: Of course not. I didn't go easy on him in training. Let alone am I going to go easy on him for a game against Benfica or Sporting.
01:05:15
Speaker 1: Impossible. I feel like you guys will get the best out of each other in training. He's pretty intense and he wants to win every ball and he wants to dribble past you. He's always coming. I feel like he's always 100 miles an hour. Is that fair to say?
01:05:28
Speaker 2: Yeah. He's always in sprint. I think he's got the highest sprint distance anyone can have. He's always sprinting.
01:05:35
Speaker 1: That's sick. Have you spoken to him? I think you guys play on December 27th.
01:05:39
Speaker 2: Yeah, December 27th we do play. I have seen him here in Lisbon as well. We've met up, spent a bit of time together. Even when we flew back from Australia, we flew back together. So, no, it's been good. It's good to have him surround the corner. If I need to, want to do something, I give him a quick call and we'll go down and do something.
01:05:58
Speaker 1: Do you guys have, do you have banter on the field? Like, do you chirp a little bit or is it just more physical presence about you?
01:06:04
Speaker 2: Yeah, I'm not a big talker. I don't like to talk. When people talk, it doesn't really faze me. So I'm like, why should I be talking? I'd much rather if a challenge comes in, give them a little elbow, a little shoulder. Yeah, but not a real big talker. A lot of people are. That's personally not my type of game because if someone talks to me, I'm just like, shut up, you dear. What are you talking to me for?
01:06:32
Speaker 1: And who's got a better chance of winning this year out of you two? Liga de Portugal. Portugal.
01:06:38
Speaker 2: Oh, out of Sporting and Berfica. The shirt that you're wearing, man. That's it, brother.
01:06:45
Speaker 1: That's it. That's it. Listen, I don't know if this chant has been said yet or sung yet, but I think we're going to have to start it right now. And at the Asian Cup, hopefully we hear, Ale, Ale, Ale, Ale, Ale, Ale. That'll stick. I'm telling you, that'll stick. That could stick. I'm going to plant a few seeds out there. Well, this is the biggest one, so hopefully. hopefully it sprouts we'll see how we go yeah brother thank you so much for um linking up with us i really appreciate you man uh best of luck this week best of luck for the rest of the season if i don't speak to you and uh man i really appreciate your time bro honestly i really appreciate it thank you very much have a great time thanks my guy bro take care thanks bro see you thank you how good beauty oh how'd you find that was that good.
01:07:36
Speaker 2: Yeah, that was so chill.
01:07:37
Speaker 1: Yeah, that's what I wanted.
01:07:38
Speaker 2: It's good to do stuff like that rather than always serious shit.
01:07:43
Speaker 1: I know. And it's harder for you guys because you're getting journalists from every walk of life. And you don't have that. Not that you don't have that connection. Yeah, you don't have that connection, bro, because you don't know how your words are going to be twisted or turned.
01:07:57
Speaker 2: No, they write lots of– I've said shit before. I've said like, for example– this, this, and this. And I've just said that I've said something else.
01:08:05
Speaker 1: Yeah, it's fucked, bro.
01:08:06
Speaker 2: I never said that. In the past, I've said like, my mum's side is from here, my dad's side is from there. And they've said both of my parents' side are from there. So my mum's side's like, oh, why didn't you mention us? And I was like, well, I did, but they just said that. It's like, you know, they said that, not me.
01:08:21
Speaker 1: That fucking burns me, man. That burns me. That burns me. That's more, I think that's more research and ownership on their behalf. Like, they just, they didn't do their job properly, bro. But, um, Yeah, fuck. I think we'll get this out Sunday, guys?
01:08:34
Speaker 2: Yeah, Sunday.
01:08:36
Speaker 1: How's your Italian, by the way? Can you speak fluent? Yeah, fluent. Go, speak to me.
01:08:40
Speaker 2: Go, go.
01:08:41
Speaker 1: Let me hear you.
01:08:42
Speaker 2: Because I don't know how to speak. Because I don't know how to.
01:08:46
Speaker 1: Tell you. Why?
01:08:48
Speaker 2: I asked you, what do you want me to tell you?
01:08:52
Speaker 1: Oh, fucking hell.
01:08:54
Speaker 2: Oh, wow.
01:08:55
Speaker 1: Yeah, I used to be fluent in Portuguese, but as the years have gone on, it's just.
01:08:59
Speaker 2: It's hard, man. Like, even to say bem.
01:09:03
Speaker 1: Tudo bem. Tudo bem.
01:09:05
Speaker 2: It's the sound, that bem. Yeah, it's like a deep... I'm used to... Tudo bem or tudo bem?
01:09:11
Speaker 1: Yeah.
01:09:12
Speaker 2: Not bem.
01:09:12
Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Do they say... Have you heard of como estás? Hola, como estás?
01:09:18
Speaker 2: What?
01:09:19
Speaker 1: Say, I had this conversation yesterday with my mom. I go, mom, are you sure it's not Spanish? Because I was talking to this Brazilera yesterday, and she said, como estas is Spanish. I'm like, no, no, como estas. Como estas is Spanish.
01:09:33
Speaker 2: Como estas is Spanish.
01:09:35
Speaker 1: Yeah, but como estas.
01:09:39
Speaker 2: I've never heard of it. People just say, taj bain.
01:09:42
Speaker 1: Taj bain, yeah, taj bain, yeah, yeah. That's like, are you good, no? Taj bain, yeah, yeah. Yeah, that's right.
01:09:48
Speaker 2: He's like, are you good?
01:09:49
Speaker 1: It's like, you good? Yeah, you good?
01:09:51
Speaker 2: Yeah.
01:09:51
Speaker 1: Taj Bain?
01:09:52
Speaker 2: Everyone just says Taj Bain. No one says, como estas?
01:09:54
Speaker 1: So I've been told a lie my whole life.
01:09:59
Speaker 2: No, maybe I'm wrong. Maybe I'm wrong. Don't, bro. My Portuguese is shit, so don't listen to me. But from what I hear, no one says, como estas?
01:10:08
Speaker 1: Well, we're from Madera, just I think an hour out from Lisbon. Hey, you ever want to go and visit it? I'll give you the keys to my house.
01:10:18
Speaker 2: We played there.
01:10:19
Speaker 1: Did you?
01:10:21
Speaker 2: Against Moritimo.
01:10:22
Speaker 1: Moritimo? Moritimo.
01:10:24
Speaker 2: Maritimo.
01:10:26
Speaker 1: Maritimo. There you go. Maritimo. Yes, Maritimo.
01:10:29
Speaker 2: And then there's also Nacional, which is Sierra 7's team. Yes.
01:10:33
Speaker 1: I've been there. Been there. That was in 2007, a long time ago. Where's Maritimo play?
01:10:42
Speaker 2: In Madeira.
01:10:43
Speaker 1: But like in Funchal, like the city? Do you remember?
01:10:46
Speaker 2: Yeah, in Funchal. In Funchal. And then Nacional plays on top of the mountain.
01:10:50
Speaker 1: Mountain, yeah. So I'm not far from there. I'm not far from there. I'm in Ganesh. So it's probably 15 minutes from my mum's house. Not even. Not even. Bro, go get some sleep.
01:11:02
Speaker 2: You need to get some sleep too, bro.
01:11:05
Speaker 1: Bro, fuck. Today was a tough carry, man. Fucking hell. We've got two more pods after this, but. Wow. Hey, get some caffeine in my veins. Go on, bro. Enjoy. I'll talk to you soon, eh?
01:11:16
Speaker 2: Thanks, bro.