LEGENDARY football manager and current Roma boss Jose Mourinho has backed Cristian Volpato’s decision to snub the Socceroos as the fall out to his decision continues.<\/p>\n
Volpato formally rejected Graham Arnold\u2019s offer to join the Socceroos World Cup squad for the upcoming tournament in Qatar, stating that he is focusing on his club career with Roma.<\/p>\n
The Sydney native has made four appearances for the Roma senior team off the bench and has made his mark with two goals and an assist in limited playing time.<\/p>\n
Speaking at a press conference in Rome, Mourinho agreed with Volpato\u2019s decision and slammed the Socceroos selectors for trying to force him into making a choice this early in his career.<\/p>\n
“I think it is a personal decision and the club has not been involved,” Mourinho said.<\/p>\n
“As a coach, for example, I would refuse to call up a player, even a young one, in a situation like that.<\/p>\n
“What I understand is that he is at the beginning of his career and he’s growing with Roma by getting more minutes in consecutive matches.<\/p>\n
“It’s not like last year where he played just one game against Verona and then he didn’t play again. I think he has now played four games in a row.<\/p>\n
“He is in a development phase where I think he has to focus on building his future and not on certain decisions where maybe someone else wants to accelerate a process that should not be sped up.”<\/p>\n
Volpato\u2019s decision seems likely to be influenced by next year’s FIFA U20 World Cup, where he looks set to represent Italy.<\/p>\n
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