The Wrexham Gem Set to Explode Onto the Scene Like a Blockbuster New Signing Next Season

Among the 13 players Wrexham brought in last summer, none generated more excitement than Liberato Cacace.

The New Zealand international briefly became Wrexham's most expensive signing when he arrived from Italian club Empoli for $2.97 million following their drop from Serie A. It was an ambitious move that marked a shift in the Welsh club's recruitment approach as they prepared for their first Championship campaign in 43 years.

Cacace made a strong impression in the opening-day loss to Southampton, but before he could find his footing at his new club, he was ruled out with a thigh problem. The injury kept him sidelined for four games before he returned to help the Red Dragons beat Millwall for their first victory of the season.

The 25-year-old lasted 77 minutes before suffering another setback, the first of four he would endure throughout his debut campaign in North Wales. Cacace managed just 13 appearances across all competitions, with a five-game stretch in late fall representing his longest uninterrupted run in the side.

It was a rude awakening for the left wingback, who had not missed a single game through injury during his three prior seasons at Empoli. Now fully fit again, he hopes a strong World Cup showing with New Zealand this summer can serve as the ideal launchpad for his second year at Wrexham.

Liberato Cacace Reflects on First Wrexham Season

"In terms of the football, it is just relentless here," Cacace said of his first season with Wrexham in a conversation with The Unused Subs podcast. "It is almost like a basketball game; it is end-to-end, especially with the position I play. It is a massive demand for me.

"I think that is also a reason why things happened the way they have happened with my season. It's just relentless, high quality. I think that is the biggest difference. Italy is so tactical, it's like a chess game. Here, the pitch is so open, you are running so much at a high speed, it is almost like who is the fittest team that can score."

Beyond the physical challenges, Cacace has had to adjust to a new culture in North Wales. His parents recently came to visit for a couple of months, though he typically only gets to see them once a year. The defender has the support of both his sister and girlfriend, who both live in London, but it has been a difficult debut season at the club, made harder by those recurring injury problems. Even so, he has no regrets.

"I have always managed to adapt everywhere I have gone," he said. "This season, away from the pitch, I have developed so much. It has taken this season for me to really look at myself and improve away from the pitch, which is something I needed.

"Over time, especially this season, I have learned to understand my body, and I have become more patient. Moving forward, I obviously understand my body a lot more, because this was all new to me. I think even with how the season has gone, it is still a decision I am really happy with."

Cacace had multiple offers when he chose to leave Empoli last summer, including one from newly promoted Italian side Cremonese, but ultimately chose Wrexham following advice from former teammate Liam Henderson, who understood the remarkable opportunity and ambition the club represented.

"That is why I signed here: to play in the Premier League," he added. "I really want to do that with Wrexham and I think we can, we will get there one day. I didn't think we'd be this close in the first season if I am really honest; that was prior to signing. Then once I signed and I saw the team we were creating ... we had an amazing group of players."

No Wrexham conversation would be complete without a mention of the club's owners. Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds continue to be a major attraction at the club, though their involvement in transfers has lessened as Wrexham has climbed through the divisions. After three consecutive promotions, the club sells itself, though the owners are always on hand to greet new arrivals and help them feel at home.

"It was a pretty surreal experience when I first officially signed," the New Zealander recalled. "I hopped on the plane to Wrexham and, strangely enough, the team weren't there; they were in New Zealand [for pre-season].

"As I was about to board the plane, I got a WhatsApp message. It said 'RR,' and I didn't put two and two together. I opened the WhatsApp message and it was a video of Ryan welcoming me to the club. I didn't expect it to happen so quickly. I thought maybe when he was going to watch a game or come watch training, that is when he would properly introduce himself. He did it straight away, and I thought that was really welcoming and showed what kind of owners they are.

"He is exactly what you see on camera; he is funny. He is just like that 24/7. I have met him in person and he is just that exact person you see on TV. I get nervous when I speak to him. I don't really like speaking to people, and he is an A-list celebrity. You don't really know what to say when he is standing in front of you."

Cacace will be hoping his football does all the talking next season.