Mark Birighitti idolised Fernando Llorente as the towering Spaniard led the line for his beloved Juventus.
So, the big Aussie could be forgiven for doing a double-take when he realised that he would soon be sharing a dressing room with the World Cup-winning marksman.
Birighitti and Llorente both joined Swansea City in the summer of 2016 — with the former Sevilla, Juve and Athletic Bilbao attacker representing arguably the most high-profile signing in the club’s history.
Aside from the biggest prize in the game, Llorente had lifted the Euro 2012 crown, seven major honours in Italy and played in the 2015 Champions League final.
Birighitti, by contrast, was a fresh-faced stopper making his way in the game following a fine spell with Newcastle Jets in the A-League.
He would ultimately fail to make the grade at the Liberty Stadium, but would make a friend for life.
“I moved to Swansea and was in a hotel for two weeks,” Birighitti told Courier Sport. “One day, the player liaison officer who was looking after me said, ‘I’ll not be able to meet you today — I have to go to London to pick up another player…and it’s a big one.’
“I was in London with my mum and we did some shopping; Buckingham Palace, all that stuff.
“When we got back to the hotel, I went up to my floor and as I’m getting closer to my room, I see the liaison officer with two players and I said to my mum, ‘no way, that’s Fernando Llorente!’
“I’m a massive Juventus fan — I grew up loving them and all my family are Juventini — so I knew who he was straight away.
“The liaison officer introduced us and we started speaking in Italian because his English wasn’t great. We became good mates from them. I speak to Fernando about once a week and he is a role model to me.
“He’s done it all and you need to take any advice he gives. He has been through so much, and achieved so much in the game, that I’m really grateful to have someone like him on my side.”
Cummings and goings
While Jason Cummings is unlikely to lift the World Cup any time soon — even if he does land a stunning Australia call-up — the former Dundee striker has been another useful sounding board ahead of Birighitti’s switch to Scotland.
Cummings and Birighitti were Central Coast Mariners teammates last term, with the irrepressible attacker enjoying a new lease of life Down Under, notching 10 goals.
“Jase is a huge character and a good guy to have around the club,” continued Birighitti. “I got close to him at the Mariners and he was a fantastic guy; a fantastic person.
“When the topic of Dundee United came up, he gave me a bit of advice about Scottish football as a whole, which I took on board.
“Although he does have that big character, when he crosses the white line it’s do-or-die for Jase — and he’s become a great leader.”
Birighitti added: “He did tell me that he’d like to come back to Scotland one day.”
Rowles reversed
There will be an even more swift reunion with another ex-Mariners colleague, Kye Rowles, who has joined Hearts and is likely to be in defence when United face the Jambos at Tynecastle on August 14.
“He is a very close friend of mine, and my missus is close with his missus,” continued Birighitti. “Rowlesy is buzzing to be at Hearts.
“He was one of the best central defenders in the A-League last season and it was the right time for him to move on. He was getting in his comfort zone in Australia and I think Scottish football will suit him.”
Indeed, that Aussie contingent in the SPFL is set to be boosted this week, with United closing in on the signing of Aziz Behich — albeit the left-back has played the majority of his football in the Turkish top-flight.
“It can only be good for Australia to have so many boys over here playing in the Scottish Premiership,” added Birighitti. “It’s exciting to see that the Scottish game is taking Australian football so seriously.
“All the Aussie boys are going to have an unreal platform.”
‘Big things’ at United
Whether that ‘platform’ results in Birighitti realising his dream of a place in the Socceroos’ World Cup squad remains to be seen — but his confidence in his own ability is unshakable.
👁 In Focus | Mark Birighitti
Listen in to the Australian's communication with his teammates during our morning session 🔊
🇦🇺 | @MarkBirraz | #UnitedInPursuit pic.twitter.com/D5rqcZ91NY
— Dundee United FC (@dundeeunitedfc) July 26, 2022
“I feel like I’ve done enough [for a call-up],” said Birighitti, who won A-League goalkeeper of the year in the past two campaigns.
“I would really like to go to the World Cup and hopefully this move puts me in a good place to get selected.
“But my top priority is to do big things for United. If I play at the level I know I can play at, I should get a call-up.”
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