Liberato Cacace Joins Wrexham and Prepares for Championship Season
Liberato Cacace, who has been an avid viewer of the series Welcome to Wrexham, is set to make his own appearance in the Disney+ documentary.
The left-back is one of Wrexham's summer signings, having joined from Empoli on a three-year contract as the club gears up for its campaign in the Championship.
While some may question a player's decision to move from Italy—despite leaving a club relegated from Serie A—to compete in England's second tier, for the 24-year-old Cacace, this transition is driven by ambition rather than the allure of the documentary that chronicles Wrexham's rise under Hollywood owners Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds.
"It’s a great documentary, and I’ve watched all the seasons," Cacace told BBC Sport Wales. "There was interest from clubs in Italy, but for me, I’m a big football fan. I watch a lot of football and have always followed English football, from the Premier League to the Championship, so I understand the level I’m entering. It has always been a dream of mine to play in the UK. Wrexham has received a lot of media attention, which allowed me to see what the club is like. It’s an exciting project, and I’m looking forward to starting the season."
Cacace had one year remaining on his contract with Empoli, but Wrexham is believed to have paid a substantial fee for the New Zealand international.
While Cacace was in North Wales finalizing the deal, his new teammates were in his hometown of Wellington on the last leg of their pre-season tour of Australia and New Zealand. Manager Phil Parkinson and club staff even visited Cacace's father's Italian restaurant and met with his family.
"It was a crazy circumstance and a strange coincidence that they were in my home country while I was here in Wrexham for the first few days," said Cacace. "But it was a nice gesture from the staff and the manager to go and say hello to my parents. I thought it was a really thoughtful touch from them."
Cacace made his debut for Wrexham in a friendly match against FC Groningen last Saturday, which was the second of two consecutive games against the Dutch side. Known as Libby by his teammates, he has enjoyed his initial weeks at the Stok Cae Ras and is eager for the Championship opener against Southampton this Saturday.
"I’ve already had discussions with the players and the manager, and I think I’m settling in quite well," Cacace added. "I’m a professional, so I always strive to stay fit. I plan to utilize every day to ensure I’m ready for the match against Southampton."