Alessandro Circati's move to Benfica has been about more than the fee. The Australian centre-back joined from Parma for €18 million in the summer, signed through 2031, and has already made eight appearances, with three starts. His own account of how the move came together is the part that sticks.

The phone call that changed the move

Speaking to A Bola, Circati described the moment Benfica's interest became real. "It was in my car, having a coffee with my agent. He told me: 'Benfica wants you very much, we've been talking for three days'. I told him: 'wait, how?!'." The call the next night made things feel even more immediate, because Benfica were already discussing the terms of his contract.

He also said the timing left him awake all night. Benfica wanted him to travel on Tuesday night, and it was still Sunday. "I didn't sleep that night, there was so much to sort out, I had to pack... I hesitated, because some people say it brings bad luck to pack before everything is confirmed... So I didn't pack, but I visualized everything [laughs]" Circati said. It is the sort of detail that makes transfer stories feel human rather than transactional.

Rui Costa and the family reaction

Circati's meeting with Rui Costa carried the emotional payoff. "It was fantastic, I felt as if I had achieved something very important, in my life, in my career, something I had dreamed of since I was very young," he said. He added that the moment mattered for his brother and father too, with family ties to Milan and to Rui Costa's playing days there.

On the pitch, the start has been solid rather than flashy. Circati has a 6.79 rating in the Primeira Liga, with four league appearances and 178 minutes so far. He has also played three times in the Europa League, where Benfica have won all three matches and hold an 8-goal difference. The move looked significant on day one, and the early numbers show he has already settled into the rotation. Benfica return to the Primeira Liga with him in the squad, and the summer deal still looks like one of the more notable arrivals at the club this season.

Written by Daniel Hartley with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →