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Amauri may snub Brazil for Italy

The Brazilian-born 28-year-old is applying for an Italian passport and had previously said he would like to play for the world champions if he continues to be overlooked by his home country.

As things stand, he would be eligible to play for Italy, where he has spent almost all of his senior career, when his passport comes through as he has never represented his homeland.

"It seems like I want to put myself up for auction between Dunga and Lippi," he told Italian daily La Repubblica.

"As that's not the case, this is the last time I'll address the subject. I won't open my mouth again until I receive an official call-up from one side or the other, if that happens.

"At that point I'll give my answer, which could be negative. I arrived at Juventus on my own legs, as a perfect unknown. That means I don't need a national team".

In the past Lippi had expressed irritation at Amauri's failure to commit himself to one national team or another, while AC Milan's Filippo Inzaghi said this week that an Azzurri place should not be a standby option.