Rome  - Brazil striker Amauri has said he looks forward to playing with the Italian national team when he obtains naturalization and asked for respect from those who would rather not see him don the Azzurri jersey.

Italian media Wednesday quoted the Juventus footballer as saying that he decided a year ago that he wanted to play with the world champions.

The debate on Amauri's naturalization heated up when Sampdoria striker Giampaolo Pazzini said after a friendly he played Saturday with Italy that he felt "a little disturbed" by the likely arrival of Amauri.

"If a player is half Italian there is no problem. It is right that he plays," he said. "But if instead one is not Italian at all, he should not play with the Azzurri."

Amauri, 30, said that when he gets an Italian passport he will think about what can happen. He is expected to receive the document in March.

It seems unlikely that Amauri will get his new passport by March 3, when Italy play their last friendly before the World Cup's final phase hosted by South Africa in June and July.

The striker is eligible for naturalization because his wife, Cynthia Cosini Valade-res, is a Brazilian-born with Italian ancestors.

"Anyone can express his opinion," Amauri said. "I respect other people's words, but the others, too, must respect mine. I don't feel embarrassed at all: I have not talked to (Italy's coach Marcello Lippi) nor to anyone else.

"When the passport arrives and if there will be Lippi's call I will answer it, but until then there is nothing I can do, therefore I will only think about Juve."

Lippi, meanwhile, has declined to talk about Amauri, and about his decision to leave out Sampdoria's talent Antonio Cassano.

"I don't care at all about Cassano, Amauri, where I will be in the future and all this nonsense," he said ahead of a friendly Italy play late Wednesday with Sweden. (IANS)