For the first time in nearly five years, an Australian has featured in a Serie A match with Cristian Volpato making his debut for Roma on Sunday morning (AEDT).
The 18-year-old attacker came on in injury-time for Jose Mourinho's side as they suffered a 3-0 defeat at home against Inter.
Socceroos defender Trent Sainsbury was the last Australian to feature in Serie A when he made an appearance for Inter Milan during a loan spell in the 2016-17 season.
Volpato has been starring for Roma's youth teams since moving to Italy in 2020 and has four goals and three assists across 10 matches for their Primavera outfit this season.
The young Aussie was released by two A-League clubs as a youth player before a stint in the Australasian Soccer Academy managed to secure him a move to Italy.
Despite a recent call-up to Italy's Under 19 team, Volpato remains eligible to play for the Socceroos and is keeping his options open should he get the chance to represent either nation's senior side.
Volpato's agent is Roma legend Francesco Totti and he was in the stands to watch his Australian player make his Serie A debut.
A late change, as Cristian Volpato comes on to make his professional debut.
— AS Roma English (@ASRomaEN) December 4, 2021
Jordan Veretout goes off.#ASRoma #RomaInter pic.twitter.com/joByFtYhdr
Welcome back to the Stadio Olimpico, Francesco @Totti! 💛❤️
— AS Roma English (@ASRomaEN) December 4, 2021
#ASRoma #RomaInter
pic.twitter.com/H5Rwm6KFJY
Roma extended Volpato's contract until 2024 at the end of last season with Mourinho opting to call him up to train with the first-team in August.
The Portuguese coach is under pressure at Roma with the club currently fifth in Serie A and seven points behind fourth-place Atalanta.
"Inter are stronger than us under normal conditions. Under abnormal conditions, they are much stronger than we are and this is a very simple story," Mourinho said after the Inter defeat.
"Under normal conditions, last year they secured 29 points more than us and today, with Covid, injuries and suspended players, our situation was very, very limited.
"With practically no offensive potential on the pitch, it would have been really important to score with one, two or three opportunities, because we certainly wouldn't have had many more. We had three great chances and we didn't score."