Valeri is in prime position to ditch the 'mini Vinnie' tag and oust Vince Grella in the Socceroos' engine room.

Currently with Sassuolo, Valeri dreams of the big stage in Italian football. However, he insists he is not unhappy with his present situation and takes a philosophical view.

"That's my dream (to play in Serie A)," Valeri told the Herald Sun. "I haven't done bad so far, started off trying to go to a World Cup and ended up playing every game in the campaign.

"It would be good if I could get a move, but if it doesn't happen it doesn't happen. Italian football is a bit slow. The money is not what it used to be.

"You've just got to keep working hard and this will give me a lot of confidence going into next season, whatever league it may be in."

Valeri feels a sense of loyalty to his current club but admits he wouldn't say no if one of the big hitters came knocking for his services.

He added: "I would like to stay with Sassuolo because they believed in me when Grosseto didn't, but if the opportunity came to go to Serie A, I'd be happy to take it."