By PA Sport Staff

Perugia are no longer interested in signing American World Cup striker Clint Mathis.

Perugia spokesman Paolo Giovagnoni said the club had decided not to pursue the New York/New Jersey MetroStars forward, who spoke with the Italian team about three weeks ago.

Earlier this spring, a possible move to German giants Bayern Munich also fell through for Mathis.

The 25-year-old drew the attention of European talent scouts when he scored twice in the Americans' 4-2 loss to Germany in Rostock in March.

Mathis has scored nine goals in 22 matches for the Americans, including some spectacular and important strikes.

He struck the winner with a brilliant free-kick in a vital 2-1 World Cup qualifying away win over Honduras, scored his country's only goal in a 2-1 loss to Brazil and followed that up with the double against Germany.

Although he is signed with Major League Soccer through the 2003 season, the league is unlikely to block a possible transfer.

If he stayed with the MLS through 2003 he would become a free agent, and the league would lose millions of dollars in transfer fees.