Incoming Wrexham signing Liberato Cacace has previously faced James McClean at international level, where the New Zealand defender spoiled the Irishman’s party.
Wrexham are set to sign Liberato Cacace from recently relegated Serie A side Empoli.
Cacace will arrive on a record transfer fee for Wrexham, with Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac showing ambition ahead of the 2025/26 Championship season.
Ahead of his move to The Racecourse Ground, Cacace has been praised by New Zealand boss Darren Bazeley, highlighting his versatility. This undoubtedly looks to be a key reason behind Phil Parkinson’s decision to sign the defender, with Cacace possessing an ability to also play further forward.
Cacace suffered a difficult Serie A season with Empoli in 2024/25, but there are still no doubts over his ability, especially after what he has shown for New Zealand. Notably, his international side faced off against Wrexham star James McClean in his final appearance for the Republic of Ireland, where he helped ‘ruin’ his big day.
Photo by Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty ImagesHow Liberato Cacace once ruined James McClean’s emotional Ireland farewell
In the early stages of James McClean’s time at Wrexham, he bid farewell on his time with Republic of Ireland national team.
After accumulating a total of 104 caps for his international side, it is safe to say that he has earned hero status in Ireland, and as a result, he was given a chance to say goodbye to the team.
His final appearance for the Republic of Ireland fell in the back-end of 2023 as they hosted New Zealand. In what looked set to be a fairytale ending for McClean with his nation, it was ‘ruined’ as Liberato Cacace’s New Zealand fought back to earn a draw.
On top of having his Ireland farewell soured, McClean also viewed a brilliant performance from Cacace on the night, with the full-back notching the third-highest rating for New Zealand, via SofaScore.
Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty ImagesLiberato Cacace’s New Zealand performances will excite Wrexham fans
At the age of 24, Liberato Cacace has already secured his place as a crucial player for the New Zealand international side, having also captained the team in recent games.
Unlike his spell at Empoli, particularly in the recent season, there has been a clear consistency with Cacace’s position for New Zealand, with him continuously being used at left-back, which appears to be his strongest area.
The calibre of opposition that New Zealand usually faces does need to be remembered, but with Cacace in the side, his national team managed to win seven games in a row, including a 1-0 victory against the Ivory Coast.
For a 24-year-old, Cacace has already shown that he has vast experience across the international stage and in Serie A, something that will prove to be vastly important to Phil Parkinson when he does sign for Wrexham.