Amauri for Italy

~Rebel~

Amauri has pledged to play for Italy! I think this is a massive boost for Italy, they've really been lacking a finisher. Toni for some reason looks more awkward for his international side then his club side. And considering for the next tournement he'll be 33, Amauri is the perfect stopgap until some of the Italian youth prospects become ready.

On another note, what do people make of all this international switching? I know its always gone on, but this is a 28 year old with no natural tie to Italy (no italian grandparent etc) switching allegiance after being ignored by Brazil. Unpatriotic or is it all about personal gain - you decide!

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12961_3670785,00.html

Brazilian striker Amauri has pledged his international allegiance to Italy.

The 28-year-old has played all his senior football in Europe and barring a brief stint in Switzerland at the start of his career he has been in Italy.

Amauri has hit the headlines in recent seasons thanks to his goals with Palermo which have earned him a move to Juventus.

Now after being ignored by Brazil, despite his goalscoring feats in Serie A, Amauri is ready to play for the Azzurri.

"I am looking forward to getting my Italian passport, Italy has allowed me to feel important and Brazil don't," he told the Giornale di Sicilia.

"I don't know whether playing for Juve will change something with [Carlos] Dunga [Brazil coach]."

Amauri admits he is disappointed to have missed out on Euro 2008.

"I think that if the passport had arrived just two months ago, maybe Roberto Donadoni [Italian coach] would have called me up," he said.

"Now I hope to be in South Africa in 2010 [for the World Cup] with Luca Toni - that would not be a bad couple."

ShoulderChip

well done for him, congratulations Amauri.

Beanmachine

Personally i don't agree with it as in if i was a professional playing abroad and wasn't getting a look in in the Irish team i wouldnt play for the country i was playing in.Just a personal thing.

Fair play to him though i can see where he is coming from.He's obviously bitter from not being recognised by Brazil and if he thinks playing for Italy will further or fullfill his career good luck to him.

DSB

Its a bit of a joke that he is even allowed play for Italy, to be honest.

Nalz

DSB wrote: »

Its a bit of a joke that he is even allowed play for Italy, to be honest.

why?

DSB

Because he is Brazilian, not Italian. If I move to Mozambique for a few years, I'm still Irish.
I don't mean him as an individual, I mean as a general rule.

invincibleirish

pfft, Mauro Camoranesi already blazed a trail with the Italians.

Theres nothing new in players from one country playing for another if they meet whatever the criteria because at the end of the day we're all the same! Nationality is only a piece of paper.

Now lets focus on those 800 Brazilians who live in Gort, there is bound to be a few decent players there who can take Ireland to a major championships!

CHD

not good news for Ireland really

mormank

invincibleirish wrote: »

pfft, Mauro Camoranesi already blazed a trail with the Italians.

Theres nothing new in players from one country playing for another if they meet whatever the criteria because at the end of the day we're all the same! Nationality is only a piece of paper.

Now lets focus on those 800 Brazilians who live in Gort, there is bound to be a few decent players there who can take Ireland to a major championships!

thats just what i was thinkin..my younger brother plays has been playin with clubs in limerick for years now and he says whenever they play against teams from around gort the other team are amazing!!! now, lets get the fa in to set up some scheme...