 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, however, 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.On 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.