Benfica in talks to sign Australian defender Alessandro Circati from Parma

Benfica is reportedly in negotiations to prise Alessandro Circati away from Parma, adding the Portuguese giants to a growing list of clubs circling one of Serie A’s most promising young centre-backs. The 22-year-old Australian international has turned heads across Europe since establishing himself as a regular starter for Parma. Juventus and AC Milan have also been linked with serious inquiries for the centre-back. Parma has reportedly set an asking price of at least €25 million, roughly $41 million AUD, for a player whose contract doesn’t expire until June 2029. Transfermarkt currently values Circati at €18 million. An ACL injury wiped out an entire season of his development. Since returning to Parma’s lineup, the centre-back has been one of the more consistent performers in Serie A’s defensive ranks following Parma’s promotion back to Italy’s top flight. That resurgence earned him a regular spot with the Socceroos, where he has accumulated 17 caps and scored one goal. With the 2026 World Cup on the horizon, Circati’s form has made him one of the first names on the Australian team sheet. He joined Parma in 2022, arriving as a teenager with potential. Circati emerged through the yo...