Amauri made his Serie A debut on 14 April 2001 in a league match against Bari. He played as one of the starting XI and was replaced by Francesco Moriero in the 69th minute. He then played for Piacenza in Serie A for the 2001–02 season (on loan from Parma, alongside Matuzalém), and for Messina in Serie B in 2002–03. He was also loaned from Parma to Empoli of Serie A in June 2002, along with teammate Gaetano Grieco, but left the club after the start of the 2002–03 Coppa Italia on 13 September, for Messina, before the start of Serie B (which was delayed). Amauri made his Messina club debut on 21 September 2002 in a 3–3 draw with Catania; he replaced Emanuele Calaiò in the 76th minute.