Socceroos defender Alessandro Circati will hope to become the latest Australian to have an impact in Serie A after securing promotion with Parma to Italy's top flight.

Circati, 20, played the entire game on Wednesday night as the Crociati secured promotion with two rounds to spare with a 1-1 draw at Bari, ending a run of three seasons in Italy's second division. Parma lead Serie B, three points ahead of Como and seven points ahead of Venezia.

French striker Ange-Yoan Bonny put Parma ahead in the 50th minute and then 40-year-old Valerio Di Cesare equalised for Bari to become the oldest-ever scorer in Serie B. As a top-two finisher, Parma are promoted automatically.

Circati will hope to win Serie B then continue his career in Italy's top flight, though he will have no shortage of suitors on the transfer market. The rising centre-back, christened "il Muro" (the Wall) by Parma's social media team earlier in the season, should also return to the Australia national team fold off the back of his club success. He has one Socceroos cap after playing for Italy's under-20s, but was left out of the Asian Cup squad earlier this year as coach Graham Arnold hoped to convince Parma to let him play for the Olyroos.

Parma ultimately wouldn't let him join the Olyroos in their unsuccessful Under-23 Asian Cup tilt, as he was such a crucial part of their promotion bid.

The Socceroos have a long history of players in Serie A. Most notably, Mark Bresciano had lengthy stays at Empoli (1999-2002), Parma (2002-2006), Palermo (2006-2010) and Lazio (2010-11).

Vince Grella, Paul Okon and Zeljko Kalac also spent much of their prime years in Italy's top flight, while Frank Farina and John Aloisi were among others to have stints there.

Most recently, Socceroos playmaker Ajdin Hrustic had a torrid time at Hellas Verona. Italian youth international Cristian Volpato, who is yet to make a decision on his senior allegiances, plays for battling Sassuolo.

A plethora of Australians will hope to be involved in Europe's top leagues next season.

Jackson Irvine and Connor Metcalfe are closing on promotion to the German Bundesliga with FC St. Pauli, while Massimo Luongo and Cameron Burgess are on the brink of sealing Ipswich Town's Premier League status for next season. Harry Souttar's Leicester City have already been promoted from the Championship but the out-of-favour defender appears unlikely to be with the Foxes next season.

Goalkeeper Joe Gauci has yet to play for Aston Villa, while midfielder Denis Genreau has been injured for most of his French season with Ligue 1 Toulouse.

Source:
courtesy of ESPN

by ESPN NEWS

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