Amauri has returned to his family in southern Florida. (Photo courtesy of the Cosmos)
By Michael Lewis
FrontRowSoccer.com Editor
Sriker Amauri, who was brought in to bolster the Cosmos attack but made only three appearances this season, is not a member of the organization anymore.
Cosmos head coach Giovanni Savarese said on a Thursday afternoon conference call that the 37-year-old forward had left the team for good a while ago. The two-time defending NASL champions decided not to make an announcement until Thursday to protect Amauri’s privacy, Savarese said.
“He will not be longer a part of this organization,” he said. “He has not been part of this organization for a long time, but we’ve been making sure as always that we think about the player, that he’s ok. Soon you’ll be looking at his picture being taken away from our website.”
According to Amauri’s page on the Cosmos website, he played in 101 minutes over three matches, starting once and not recording a goal or an assist.
He performed in three non-winning matches, which included as a starter in the season-opening scoreless draw with Puerto Rico FC March 25, as a 17-minute substitute in the 3-0 home-opening defeat April 1 and as an 11-minute sub in a 1-1 tie with Jacksonville April 22.
Amauri, who signed with the organization Feb. 21, left the club for personal reasons and returned home to his family in Florida.
When the Cosmos visited southern Florida to play Miami FC June 24, Savarese said that he sat down with Amauri.
“He explained his family situation is much better,” he said. “He looked a lot better in his situation. After conversing at that time, we decided that the right thing for him to stay with his family. That was the decision that he made. We kept all that very confidential because we want to protect the personal situation of the player.”
Amauri, born and raised in Brazil, first performed with Santa Catarina Clube before playing for Italian clubs Juventus, Napoli and Fiorentina, scoring more than 80 goals over 16 years in Serie A and making one appearance with the Italian national team.
Last August the 6-2, 183-lb. forward joined the Fort Lauderdale Strikers and tallied five goals and one assist in 826 minutes.