Amauri chooses Italy

Juventus' new striker Amauri has decided to pledge his international allegiance to Italy instead of his homeland Brazil. The player has been recipient of an Italian passport after numerous impressive seasons for previous club Palermo.

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

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

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

"Now I hope to be in South Africa in 2010 for the World Cup."