It looks like we were right when saying that Alexandre Pato’s move was just a matter of time. Him landing in London was not a coincidence. After being interviewed during his first couple of minutes in the UK, the Brazilian striker admitted it was a childhood dream to play in the Premier League. According to Metro, all is not settled yet for the former Milan wonder kid who will be on loan until the end of the season and then be up for a transfer. Corinthians have agreed to sell for £8million but Chelsea will buy only if they are satisfied with the way the 26-year-old performs. It`s a smart move from the Blues who could be reluctant to believe that the Brazilian will be able to handle a comeback to Europe.
Looking back at Pato’s past experiences, it is hard to tell what happened. He was one of the biggest mysteries in the modern history of European football. Why? Because instead of trying to rise to expectations after a drop in form, he decided to move back home. Usually, players like him who explode at such a young age and then start to die out, take their chance with teams that have less expectations than football giants like Milan, Chelsea, Real or Bayern. If you look at players like Lukaku, Matic, Chicharito and several others, you can see what I mean. Going back to South America to revamp your football career is pretty much like giving up on European football. At this point, no one comes to mind when thinking of who returned after a trip to South America. Tevez and Ronaldinho stayed there, Adriano did the same. Then there’s Robinho, Forlan, Veron and more.
Will Pato be the exception?
Given the massive amount of talent he showed while in Milan, Chelsea fans should have their fingers crossed. He was a quick, quick striker, with great finishing skills. He was strong and to top it all off he was Brazilian. That means that aside from efficiency he also brought some enthusiasm and spark to the game. Hopefully a move to Chelsea will not be too much for Pato and some credit will be given to him so he can prove he`s not done yet.