Amauri

Early career

Amauri was trained at Palmeiras, the club of his place of birth, São Paulo state, but failed to impress. At the age of 19, he went to Santa Catarina state to work and played for a local club Santa Catarina at Santa Catarina State League 2nd Division. The club was invited to 2000 Torneo di Viareggio in Italy, at which he showed his talent to scouts; he was signed by a club from the Italian-speaking region of Switzerland, Bellinzona. He scored once in five appearances.

Parma and loans

After half a season in the Swiss Nationalliga B and Nationalliga A/B playoffs, Amauri played for Napoli in 2000–01 due to the abolishment of the non-EU quota. In a Lega Nazionale Professionisti record, Amauri joined Parma from Napoli in summer 2001 on free transfer, but Parma also paid Harold McKenzie $3.5 million, apparently the "true owner" of Amauri's playing rights. Officials from Parma also argued that Amauri was Parma-owned player since 2000, but that he was loaned to Napoli in 2001, in order to register the player. This was made public in the hearing of Caso Parmalat in 2010. Amauri made his Serie A debut on 14 April 2001 in a league match against Bari. He played as one of the starting XI and was replaced by Francesco Moriero in the 69th minute. He then played for Piacenza in Serie A for the 2001–02 season (on loan from Parma, alongside Matuzalém), and for Messina in Serie B in 2002–03. He was also loaned from Parma to Empoli of Serie A in June 2002, along…

Following his impressive performances when at Palermo, Amauri was suggested to be a potential call-up of the then Italy coach Roberto Donadoni, who stated he might be interested in calling him to the Italian squad. Amauri, who has not appeared at international level for Brazil, would have been indeed eligible in the future to play for the Italian national team because he was eligible to acquire Italian nationality by marriage to a Brazilian–Italian woman. According to Italian law, however, Amauri was forced to wait for at least one year from the day of the proclamation of his wife as an Italian citizen, which did not happen before April 2009. On 31 January 2009, Brazilian coach Dunga selected Amauri, who was still ineligible to play for Italy at the time, as a replacement for injured striker Luís Fabiano in an international friendly ironically against Italy. A few hours later, in the aftermath of a Juventus league game on the same day, Juventus Chairman Giovanni Cobolli Gigli stated the club's intention not to allow the player to respond to Brazil's call-up.

In November 2009, Amauri himself confirmed his decision to play for Italy instead of Brazil following remarks by Italian striker Giampaolo Pazzini, who was critical about the possibility of having a non-Italian-born player within the Azzurri squad. After receiving Italian citizenship in April 2010, Amauri finally became eligible to play for the Azzurri. Italy was scheduled to play two World Cup warm-up friendlies in…

Amauri has been described as a physically strong player with good technique, who excels in the air, and who is capable of taking advantage of chances and finishing well in the penalty area. He is a hardworking and opportunistic player, who is known for his offensive movement and ability to score goals or create space for teammates. Although he is usually deployed in the centre as a main striker, he is also capable of playing off of another forward as a second striker.

Amauri is married to fellow Brazilian Cynthia, whom he first met during his spell at Napoli. They have a daughter, Cindy, and a son, Hugo Leonardo. Cynthia received Italian nationality in March 2009, making Amauri eligible to obtain Italian nationality from March 2010. Amauri finally received his Italian citizenship on 12 April 2010 during a ceremony in Turin.