Birighitti eyes Europe with agent switch
Perth-born Newcastle Jets keeper Mark Birighitti has moved management teams as he looks to become the next Australian player to secure a move to Europe.
Birighitti has signed with Italy-based former Socceroo Vinnie Grella at the Base Soccer agency, which helped with the moves for fellow Jets Josh Brillante (Fiorentina) and Adam Taggart (Fulham), as well as Perth Glory young gun Daniel De Silva (Roma).
Birighitti, who has one Socceroos cap, was part of Ange Postecoglou's 27-man preliminary squad for the 2014 World Cup finals.
Although he missed the final cut for Brazil, the 23-year-old did get a taste for the big time when he played for the A-League All Stars against Juventus in August.
Birighitti was linked with a move to Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen earlier this year, when he was represented by John Grimaud. But the move fell through after the German outfit sacked coach Sami Hyypia.
“Going over to the World Cup in Brazil and being picked in the All Stars to play Juventus, I’ve come out of these experiences a totally different person," Birighitti told Four Four Two in September.
“Every young footballer I speak to has an ambition to play at the highest level possible.
“I was lucky to experience that when I went to Bayer Leverkusen. Unfortunately it didn’t end up working out, which was pretty disappointing.
“Europe is definitely in the back of the my mind but at the moment I want to take each week as it comes. I’m a Newcastle Jets player, so I don’t want to get too far ahead of myself.”
