Mat Ryan rolls out welcome mat for new Socceroo Alessandro Circati

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








