THELessandro Circati gave, in the early afternoon of this Tuesday, an extensive interview to the podcast Unscriptedpresented by former Australian rugby player Joshua Mansour, in which, among other topics, he spoke about his move to Benfica last summer.
The Australian was one of Benfica’s signings in this summer transfer market, after the Reds paid around 18 million euros to Italians Parma. Now, the central defender reveals some of the behind-the-scenes of the negotiation.
“It all happened in my car, having a coffee with my manager (Federico Pastorello), until he told me: ‘Benfica really wants you and we’ve been talking for three days’. The following night, he called me again, on a Sunday, saying that they were already discussing the conditions of my contract and they wanted me to travel on Tuesday night”, the Australian began by saying.
“I didn’t sleep that night, there was so much to sort out, I had to pack my bags… I hesitated because some people say it’s bad luck to pack your bags before everything is confirmed. So I didn’t do them, but I visualized everything”, confessed the Australia international, who signed a contract valid until June 2031.
Circati also revealed that one of the most special moments was when he met Rui Costa, the president of Benfica, who was an idol of his family.
“It was a great experience for my brother and my father, who grew up fans of Milan, where Rui Costa played. My grandfather was a really staunch fan and it was a very important moment for my whole family”, he highlighted.
The 22-year-old player also admitted that the pressure has increased significantly, as Parma’s goals in Serie A are very different from those that Benfica has in the Portuguese championship.
“Representing Benfica brings more pressure. I have to be honest. I feel the pressure, but I don’t let it affect me or stop me from always doing better”, he highlighted.
Closing the conversation with Joshua Mansour, Alessandro Circati was still radiant with the growing enthusiasm surrounding football in Australia, in a country where the king sport does not have much of a history.
For example, in a private game against Brazil, which was held last September in Brisbane, more than 52 thousand fans were in the stands, in a clear demonstration of support for the socceroos. The game ended with a 4-1 defeat for the home team. In that game, Benfica’s central defender scored and assisted, while Sporting winger Nestory Irankunda committed a penalty
“It’s good to see that Australia is finally supporting football again. Before, when we went to Australia to play, it felt like we were in two completely different worlds. But we finally got that feeling again at the game in Brisbane”, he concluded.
