Alexandre Pato has once again claimed that he will return to AC Milan one day, while he previewed the Champions League quarter-final second leg against Napoli.
Pato began his career as a youth player for Internacional in 2000 and he made his debut in 2006 at age 16. It wasn’t long before he caught the eyes of top clubs in Europe and in August 2007 he signed for Milan.
He scored 18 goals in 42 matches in all competitions in the 2008-09 season – which earned him both the Golden Boy and Serie A Young Footballer of the Year awards – and he helped win the Scudetto 14 goals in 25 games in 2010-11.
However, he could never fully shake off the injuries that plagued him and in January 2013 he returned to Brazil, signing for Corinthians. He is currently a free agent, having left Orlando City last year.
Pato spoke on Milan TV during the segment ‘L’Inferno del Lunedì’ and he was asked about a variety of topics from his past against Napoli to what the future might hold for him, with his comments relayed by MilanNews.
You and Napoli, what a story…
“I was lucky enough to play against Napoli, sometimes I even scored good goals. They are difficult matches, you never know what happens. I didn’t have the opportunity to play in Naples, now there will be a different atmosphere in the Champions League.
“I am confident, we can get through. Seeing the first game I think it’s very difficult. We have to score a goal and believe in it until the end.”
Will the 0-4 in the league in that stadium somehow make Milan enter the field fired up?
“The season is long and Napoli are far ahead, they could afford a game like this. We also have to be careful, there are very different matches in the Champions League. Maybe they set us up to make you think it could be easy even in the Champions League, while they did very well at San Siro.
“Milan are now coming off a win but they have to be very careful, not to think it will be like in the league. It will be more difficult than the first Champions League match, but I think Milan will be ready. If they can score a goal right away it would be much better.”
Leao and Osimhen will have a real battle…
“I see that Napoli and Milan have good players. Getting to this point in the Champions League means that you have great players who make the difference.
“I see that Milan have good players, but now we have to be careful. But if Milan goes with the right mind in the Champions League then… I also think it would be very nice if Milan found Carlo Ancelotti in the final.”
Do you think it will be a game in which Napoli will press and find themselves leaving space on the counterattack or will they be prudent?
“I expect a Napoli like at San Siro, they will try to score early on. I think Milan will have their opportunities with Napoli all up front, Milan must be cynical there if there will be these spaces. At that moment if Milan arrive in the danger zone then they must score.”
What do you expect from Leao tomorrow?
“I see Leao very very confident. He has it all. He manages to do everything because he is very confident. My advice to him is not to listen to what’s going on around him… Money, agents… He must only listen to himself, Milan has everything, Milan is wonderful.
“I thank God for the Milan fans, sometimes when I’m sad I see how the Milan fans treat me well, Leao has everything, he can be even more of an idol for the fans. He doesn’t have to think about what’s on the outside, what goes around him because they change the player’s head and that’s not good.”
Do you meet Kaká from time to time?
“I spoke to him the other day, now he lives next door to my house. I’m waiting for him to invite me to eat at his house (laughs).”
Leao follows you on Instagram and also likes your posts…
“We talk to each other, I asked him for his shirt. I would like his shirt.”
Would you have played in his role, so wide?
“I played winger and then Berlusconi called me and told me not to go and get the ball far away from goal, then from there I played more forward. But before I did play on the wing (laughs).”
Would you like to play with him?
“I will go back to Milan one day, I go left and he goes right (laughs).”
Finally, an anecdote you remember?
“When I went to Naples, I didn’t know Italian food and Gattuso brought us mozzarella. We are flying back and he asks me to try it, I thought it was ice cream. I taste it and make a face… This left and impression on me (laughs).”
What happened to this guy is very sad. If he didn’t get a lot of injured, he could be still in Milan and scored a lot of goals.
Pato is one of my favorite Milan players to this day. Incredible talent that you see few of in a decade. He could’ve challenged for the Ballon d’Or if he stayed injury free!
I hope he can get to finish his career at Milan 🙏
I’d like to have him in the squad instead of Origi.. He’ll be more useful at this age than him.
Feel really sorry for him, he’s a good guy and also a good player, but let’s be realistic: he’s finished as a footballer.
Better than Origi that we’ve been managing