Time For Amauri To Decide - Lippi

Amauri has been based in Italy for the past seven years and recently set in motion the process of acquiring Italian citizenship.

The Brazil-born forward is expected to make up his mind as to his international plans early next season, but Lippi insists that he should represent Italy as a priority, and not only if Brazil decide against choosing him.

Roberto Donadoni, Lippi’s predecessor, had asked Amauri to consider representing the Italian national side, but the former Palermo hit-man declined the invite.

Lippi has made it understood that he will not tolerate such indecisiveness, and has urged the 15 million euro striker to make clear his intentions.

He told Gazzetta della Sport: “I don’t like a player who skips between national sides for a month. When he finally does make a decision, it would inevitably seem like a second choice and Italy cannot be second choice for anyone.

“I want to see a firm decision and ask nothing else. If he does become legally Italian and chooses us, I certainly wouldn’t be disappointed.”

Lippi, the World Cup winning coach, also spoke of the possibility of regaining the services of Francesco Totti and Alessandro Nesta.

He urged players not to make an announcement about international retirement. He continued: “I advise anyone never to give a definitive farewell to international football, as they might end up reconsidering like Zinedine Zidane and Claude Makelele.

Lippi went on to state that he will be watching his side’s under-23 side in action at the Olympic Games, and said that there were ’four or five’ member of that panel ready to make the step-up to full international football.

He said: “I’ll be paying close attention to the Olympic Games, as there are four or five players I’m keeping an eye on.”

Gazzetta reports that among those names could be Giuseppe Rossi, Riccardo Montolivo, Antonio Nocerino, Sebastian Giovinco and Robert Acquafresca.