Virgiliu Postolachi has seen up close just how demanding life can be when striving to be recognised among football's upper echelon after he grew up trying to force his way into one of the world's most famed powerhouses.
The experience tested his resolve and resulted in international stars Edinson Cavani, Presnel Kimpembe and Neymar "pushing him hard" and forcing him to mature quickly during his time growing up within the system of French juggernauts Paris Saint-Germain (PSG).
"Sometimes they'd get on me, kick me, but say to me 'stand up and continue to push'. It was pretty cool," Postolachi told this masthead.
"You need to grow up, and you need to listen and take every information fast. You don't have time, and they don't let you have mistakes, so you have to keep working and be aware every time.
"OK, they were big players, but I wanted to be better than them. You need to be at the same level when you train with them, so you're working more hard than them because you're young."
Postolachi has arrived at the Roar as part of a wider recruitment drive that has brought several Europe-trained players to the club as it looks to climb back up the A-League ladder. The club's revival mission hinges on recruits who have been schooled in some of Europe's toughest development systems.