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| Thursday 8 May, 2008 |
| Blog: Tainted love |
Recent confusion aside, Amauri is likely to be Juventus’ first summer signing. But Paul Watson fears the Palermo star isn't the Old Lady’s Mr Right
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The personification of pace, power and poise, it is little wonder that Amauri has become this summer’s must-have accessory for a title chasing side. But while you can’t quarrel with his achievements on the pitch, Amauri’s performances in Press conferences have been less than convincing.
“I am 91 per cent Juve and it will be an honour to wear the Juve shirt,” the Sao Paulo native declared a fortnight ago. However, there wasn’t even time to print his name on the back of a replica shirt before he had changed his tune. “Nothing is decided – I’m focusing on Palermo,” he insisted.
Touching sentiments, but sadly what Amauri really meant was that some other glamorous suitors had turned his head. And sure enough, he let his deepest fantasy slip when he suggested a ménage à trois with Milan where he would play six months with each side.
But it’s not the first time Amauri has flaunted his fickle disposition. Born in Brazil, the former Chievo man is pressing to get an Italian passport so that he can represent the Azzurri. Fair enough you may think, he has fallen in love with the Bel Paese, but he has openly admitted that he will snub Italy if he gets the Selecao call first. Pragmatism rules in Amauri’s world.
It seems that Serie A’s Casanova has an ego to match his talent and I wonder whether the Old Lady will be able to put up with his wandering eye. Amauri is a mercenary and is out for what he can get – an attitude that stands in complete contrast with the Juventus ethos. At the moment there’s a state of harmony in the Bianconeri dressing room, in spite of the superstar egos, but Amauri could be like a bull in a china shop.
So accustomed to being the main man, how will he cope with spending significant periods of time on the bench? Claudio Ranieri will be looking to rotate his squad more next term, given the added pressure of Champions League football, and he will need players who understand that the team comes first. If Vincenzo Iaquinta and Raffaele Palladino don’t seem to have the patience, what hope is there for Amauri?
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Thank you Paul Watson, finally someone says what I think all Juve supporters are finally starting to see.
As a Juve supporter, I want to sign players that are going to sign for Juventus and be ready to battle through thick and thin. I think during the scandal the true champions showed (Gigi Buffon, Mauro Camoranesi, Alex Del Piero, Pavel Nedved, David Trezeguet) because they stayed, they did not desert a sinking ship. We all know who the other money hungry players were that left. With the exception of Fabio Cannavaro with his older age and shorter time to reach his ambitions, the others all looked the other way.
Decisions seem to be easy when money is involved these days. Amauri can't make up his mind and that bothers me, even if he went to Milan he is looking at about the same amount of playing time with the amount of strikers they have (maybe a bit more) but nothing like he is getting at Palermo. Not to mention he is a late bloomer anyways, 27-years-old and is now turning heads in Europe. He has no Champions League experience, let alone carrying a burden of three competitions - Coppa Italia, Seria A, and Champions League.
I say invest more of the transfer funds into an early bloomer, someone much younger. There is a young striker at Ajax that Juve have been associated with in the past, Juve fans everywhere I am sure know who he is and would much rather see his face in a Juve shirt, not the former.
Cameron
I totally agree! We have Palladino and Giovinco who are as good as Amauri and younger! Only stupid Secco and Ranieri cannot see this! We need Diego, Quaresma, Van Der Vaart or Joaquin and a good defender.
Mikkel
Yes, I agree that Amauri is a late bloomer, as was Luca Toni. Palermo seems to harness the talents of these giants. I'm certain even though Amauri has delivered these ad hoc statements he knows the situation that exists at Juve, where loyalty and gusto reigns supreme and furthermore that he won't be the man,but he can be.
I think it might be the europhia about the move, he'll fit...Claudio will make him fit...Juve do need a bigger squad with high quality and he'll sit on the bench sometimes, but he'll fit.
Simon, Jamaica
In as much as we need a strong and experienced striker, Secco should get us Amauri or Huntelaar from Ajax. Not forgetting Nedved is going hence, we need Quaresma for the wings and a strong midfielder in Diego and or Van Der Vaart. With this I think the Old Lady can do just what Manchester United did in 1999 come next season.
Long live JUVENTUS.
John
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