Amauri’s World Cup dream could be over, as he cannot become a citizen before March 5, so he’ll miss the last friendly before the tournament.
The Brazilian is in the process of gaining his Italian passport so he can represent the Azzurri in South Africa 2010.
He can only become a citizen because his wife, also Brazilian, achieved her passport in March. However, new laws state a husband must wait a full year before he can gain citizenship through marriage.
Today the government confirmed it cannot swear Amauri in until March 5, 2010 – two days after the final Italy friendly test.
It means Marcello Lippi would have to add the Juventus striker to his World Cup squad without playing a single game first.
This suggests 29-year-old Amauri’s dream of representing Italy in this tournament is all but over.
Football Italia