Valeri Moves As Deal Done

Sassuolo unveiled the 25-year-old Socceroo, who will wear the number 48, at a press conference at the club's headquarters on the weekend.

Valeri endured a difficult final period at Grosseto after being frozen out of action for almost two months by the club who demanded he commit to a new contract in Tuscany with his deal set to expire in June.

The Australian did eventually sign a two-year extension at Grosseto, but upon the opening of the transfer window he jumped at the chance to sign with Sassuolo who are coached by his former mentor Stefano Pioli.

Valeri explained his decision at the conference, revealing Pioli's presence was important.

"I knew the coach from my time at Grosseto, so I know how he and his staff work," he said. "He's a technician who is prepared and very professional."

The Aussie was pressed on his sudden departure from Grosseto having been there since 2005, with explosive chairman Piero Camilli seen as the root of his problems there.

"They were very nice years at Grosseto and I leave many friends and fond memories," Valeri said. "Camilla is a winner, but I needed to turn the page and I'm here at Sassuolo."

Valeri also cited his national team aspirations as a major reason for his move with regular football crucial to his hopes of winning a spot in Pim Verbeek's 23-man Socceroos squad for the 2010 World Cup.

"I know that only depends on me. I have to work really hard, but it is a goal that I want to achieve at all costs," he said.

Beyond that, Valeri also sees promotion to Italy's Serie A with Sassuolo as a major possibility, with the Emilia-Romagna club currently sitting fourth, having narrowly missed last season's playoffs.

The Canberra-born midfielder added: "These were my dreams when I arrived in Italy (to play at a World Cup and in Serie A) and now they are two possible objectives.

"In recent years I have grown as a player and as a person and I hope to achieve them."

But the Socceroo admitted his priority was the national team, when the point was raised that the lengthy 42-game Serie B season and subsequent playoffs would coincide with Australia's World Cup warm-up games.

He laughed: "Unfortunately you can not refuse an invitation to the World Cup. Maybe we can win direct promotion, so there would be no problem."

Sassuolo are currently fourth in Serie B, three points behind leaders Lecce and two points behind second-placed Ancona, with the top two automatically promoted.