Who is Volpato: the Roma starlet who snubbed Australia’s call-up for Italy

Here’s a profile of Cristian Volpato, the Roma starlet who snubbed Australia’s call-up for Qatar 2022, waiting for Italy.

The 18-year-old made his senior debut with the Giallorossi last season, scoring in a 2-2 draw against Hellas Verona. Ironically, he once again found the net against the Gialloblu this term, helping José Mourinho’s side earn all three points at the Stadio Bentegodi.

Volpato joined Roma’s U17 squad from West Sydney’s Youth Sector in January 2020. He was born in Camperdown but he has Italian roots.

His grandfather Sergio moved to Australia from a town called Fossalunga Province of Treviso, in the Region of Veneto.

In an interview with Il Gazzettino in 2020, Cristian’s father Oscar said that his son began playing football in the academy of AC Milan Sydney and then had trials with Atalanta and Bologna.

“They liked him, but they said he was too young, so in the end, nothing happened,” he said.

Eventually, Roma scouts spotted him in Australia and brought him to Italy in January 2020 after a trial with the Giallorossi in December 2019.

Volpato is represented by the CT10 Management Srl, an agency founded by Roma legend Francesco Totti.

The ex-Giallorossi striker was his agent when Volpato arrived in Italy, but the latest reports in Italy suggest someone else is now following the promising attacking midfielder, given that Totti will no longer work as a football agent, despite still being involved in the company he owns.

“Cristian’s idol is Cristiano Ronaldo, also because they have the same name,” said Volpato’s father Oscar, back in 2020.

“We are happy, we feel that we are in good hands. Trigoria is like a little town of sport, where they take extra care of their athletes.

“Totti brings him around the city, I’ve understood that it is crucial to behave well on and off the pitch here.”

Volpato can play as an attacking midfielder or right winger. He has three caps to his name with the Italy U20 squad and dreams of playing for the Azzurri one day. Therefore he rejected a call from Australia for the World Cup.

“It’s a personal choice, it doesn’t concern the club, this is the beginning of his career and he wants to grow up at Roma,” Mourinho said on Tuesday.

“It’s a growth process and he must focus on his future. Somebody wants to accelerate a process which should not be accelerated.”

Volpato has scored 12 goals in 36 appearances with Roma’s Primavera team and has two goals and one assist in eight appearances with the senior squad.

His contract at the Stadio Olimpico runs out in June 2026.