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Alexandre Pato is coming home. Well, actually he’s leaving home. But he’s making a move back to his home away from home--Europe. The one-time Brazilian prodigy has reached an agreement with Chelsea for a six-month loan deal. At the end of the six months the club will have the option to extend the loan, make it a permanent deal or kick him to the curb.
It’s a fascinating development, and just the latest twist in the plot of Alexandre Pato’s career. At one time, Pato was one of the most exciting young talents in Brazilian football. As a teenager he made the move from Internacional to Italian giants AC Milan — this at a time when Milan were still revered as such — where he enjoyed immediate success.
All signs pointed to global stardom; people were anointing him as the heir to Ronaldo’s thrown, the next great Brazilian No. 9, Pele reborn, the most exciting young person to grace the earth since Prince (OK, that may be getting carried away, but you get the idea). And then, well, we all know what happened next.
Pato flamed out of AC Milan, and crashed out of Europe all together — injuries, loss in form, and a depleted confidence all playing a factor.
That was 2012, and also the last time he played in Europe. Since then, Pato has been trying to find his best form back in Brazil, first with Corinthians — who took Pato from Milan for a whopping fee — then with Sao Paolo, because Corinthians were fed up with things like this:
Alexandre Pato What Are You Doing
He did better with Sao Paolo.
There’s no denying his natural talent. With his above average technical ability and his world class speed, he offers a unique combination of skill and athleticism. He’s also useful with both feet, and can head the ball better than most Brazilians (no offense, guys).
The biggest obstacle Pato will have to overcome to achieve success at Stamford Bridge will be his own self. Can he stay healthy? Can he find his best form? Those two things will determine whether or not he can even get a game in under interim manager Guus Hiddink.
One thing that he does have on his side, though, is a sense of severely lessened expectations. No longer is he a Brazilian prodigy with the hopes of a country resting squarely on his shoulders. And no longer is he on the face of every Wheaties box in South America (presumably, that is).
Diego Costa is obviously the first choice striker at Chelsea, and Pato knows that. He’ll likely be used as a backup to Costa, maybe a late game sub, or perhaps even a replacement in games deemed of lesser importance. Not exactly glamorous, but it’s something the side desperately needs considering Loic Remy’s lack of desire to be at the club, and Radamel Falcao’s, well, failure to launch.
As for those injury woes of his, Pato appears to have been cured. In 2015 with Sao Paolo he played 56 matches — a staggering sum for a guy who made just 25 appearances for Milan from 2011-13 because of injuries. He even scored a few goals, too, while displaying a versatility to play both out wide and through the middle that he didn’t show at a younger age.
In coming to Chelsea he does so not as the Pato of old, but as a guy who’s desperate to prove his worth on the grand stage once again; he’s boyish about the prospect of playing for Chelsea, and keen on making his life in London. Now at 26 (still just one year removed from being able to rent a car)he’s a more versatile player with a better head on his shoulders. And who knows, maybe that could make all the difference.
