Is Amauri Close to a Italy Call-Up?

With Italy struggling to find the back of the net over the past few months, there has been plenty people talking about how the Azzurri could improve their attack.

It now seems as though a solution is close to being on the way.

Brazilian-born Juventus striker Amauri, who was one of Serie A's most expensive transfers this summer, has been attempting to get his Italian passport for months. And now it seems as though it is finally about to become a reality.

"It's a slow process but as regards to the passport, we are there," Amauri's agent Mariano Grimaldi told Radio Kiss Kiss. "From now on, Amauri will be wearing either the Italy or Brazil jersey, apart from the Juventus one."

With Amauri yet to receive a call from Brazil coach Dunga, it seems more and more likely that Italy manager Marcello Lippi will call-up the striker. However, in the past, Amauri has stated that Brazil is his first choice, no matter how much a call to the Italian team would mean to him.

However, with the likes of Kaka, Robinho, Adriano, and Alexandre Pato all ahead of him in the pecking order, it seems as though Italy may be his only option if he wants to play on the international level anytime soon.

"Obviously, whichever shirt he decides to wear will be for the good of the player as they are both great teams,' Grimaldi said.

If Amauri is called into the Italy squad, it would be a huge boost for the Azzurri. After Luca Toni's disappointing performance at Euro 2008, word starting being spread that Italy needed a total makeover.

With talented youngsters on the way, such as Giuseppe Rossi, Mario Balotelli, and Sebastian Giovinco, a player of Amauri's stature and talent would be a legitimate stop-gap and a way to make sure that the younger players are not rushed into the senior squad.