Cassani: Amauri was the best

Fiorentina’s Mattia Cassani has praised forgotten Juventus striker Amauri. “He’s the best player I’ve ever played alongside.”

Fiorentina’s Mattia Cassani has praised forgotten Juventus striker Amauri. “He’s the best player I’ve ever played alongside.”

Amauri is being paired with a switch to Tuscany this month as the Viola look for an Alberto Gilardino replacement following his transfer to Genoa.

Amauri is available given that he hasn’t played a single minute of football for Juve this term and his contract expires in June.

“The Amauri who was with me at Palermo was the best player I’ve ever played alongside,” Cassani told the Corriere dello Sport. “He was a monster.

“Had he not picked up an injury in 2006 then we would have ended that season by qualifying for the Champions League.”

The Brazilian-born Italian international scored 23 Serie A goals in 52 games for the Rosanero before moving to Juve in a €23m deal in the summer of 2008.

He made an impressive start to life in Turin, but the goals dried up and he’s scored just 17 in 71 top-flight games for the Old Lady.

Meanwhile, Cassani should return to action this weekend against Novara after recovering from injury.

“I’m ready to play,” said the man who arrived at Fiorentina on loan from Palermo in the summer. “And the squad is in good shape.”