Wrexham signed Liberato Cacace from Serie A side Empoli and his dad has praised the club’s family feel after hosting the manager and CEO at his restaurant in New Zealand
Wrexham chiefs toasted the signing of Liberato Cacace with his dad at La Bella Italia restaurant(Image: Google)
The father of one of Wrexham’s new big-money signings has revealed how he toasted the deal with club chiefs when they visited his restaurant. Liberato Cacace signed for the Red Dragons from Italian side Empoli earlier this month in a deal believed to be worth just over £2million, potentially rising to as much as £4m with add-ons.
The left-back has played in Serie A for the last three-and-a-half years, racking up 86 league appearances. Empoli were ultimately relegated from the Italian top tier at the end of last season.
The New Zealand international was widely expected to stay in the division following interest from the likes of Cagliari, Pisa and Cremonese.
However, Wrexham, owned by Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, stole a march to secure Cacace’s signature as he penned a three-year contract with the Championship new boys. The Welsh outfit were coincidentally set to play a friendly match in the 24-year-old’s hometown of Wellington, New Zealand, around the time the deal was finalised.
Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson and chief executive Michael Williamson took the opportunity to pop in to his dad’s restaurant, La Bella Italia, for a glass of wine and some food. Antonio Cacace, who was born in Naples but moved to New Zealand in 1992, has now explained how their visit convinced him that his son made the right choice.
Speaking in an interview due to be aired by Wrexham fan podcast Fearless in Devotion on Wedneday, he said: “We only knew at the last minute that they were coming which was fantastic and that’s proof of the family environment at Wrexham. It was an honour and a pleasure for us to meet Phil and Michael.
“We had a little bit to eat and a glass of wine. We appreciate how humble these people are to come and meet the parents of a player. It was a fantastic experience for them and for us, also for the team to be here in Wellington.
The father of New Zealand international Liberato Cocace has explained how he came to join Wrexham(Image: FIFA)
“Just the fact that they came to see us, that’s already a sign that they’re going to look after Liberato. During the hour and a half to two hours that we were there talking, laughing and singing, that [feeling] became even more strong.”
Williamson played a key role in signing Cacace having previously held senior roles with Serie A giants Inter Milan. As per New Zealand news outlet Stuff, this enabled him to speak directly with his agent and Empoli’s sporting director.
Wrexham were in New Zealand to play a friendly against Cacace’s boyhood club Wellington Phoenix as part of their pre-season tour Down Under. They lost 1-0 in a surprise result but their pain was eased by the signing of the local hero.
Outlining his son’s motivation for joining Wrexham, Antonio said: “Being a humble man, he loves the fact of being in a nice, small community, where everyone is behind the team and the club. I think that’s the major reason why he chose to come to Wrexham.
Wrexham CEO Michael Williamson (left) and manager Phil Parkinson visited the restaurant owned by Liberato Cacace’s dad(Image: Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)
“After a very disappointing time when Empoli went down to Serie B, he always expressed the desire to stay in Serie A. There were two or three clubs very interested in having Liberato, along with Wrexham.
“We always talk to each other and he came to us several times [for advice]. At the end, he decided to choose Wrexham.”
Wrexham have achieved huge success since Reynolds and McElhenney bought the club in 2021 after registering three successive promotions. They now sit just one level below the Premier League and Antonio hopes his son can help continue their meteoric rise, despite confessing he would one day like to see him play for his own hometown team Napoli.
“If Wrexham get to the Premier League, it will be an incredible journey,” said Antonio. “It will be fantastic, not only for the players and the club, but also for the community, which I understand is strong, wonderful and warm.
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“Liberato will give 300 percent to make that happen. I can feel it and I can see it from speaking to him in the last few days. He’s very focused, very determined and very committed to do well, which is great.”
He added: “To be honest, it is a dream for me [for Liberato to play for Napoli]. Maybe it would be a dream for Liberato as well, especially with the way Napoli is now with [Antonio] Conte as coach.
“But at the end of the day, if he gets to the Premier League, I think he will have achieved what he always wanted to achieve, which is [to play in] Serie A and the Premier League. These are the two best leagues in the world.”
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