Alexandre Pato says he would like to move to the Premier League
Alexandre Pato has said that he wants to move to England, opening the door for a number of Premier League clubs to sign the Brazilian in January.
After joining Milan with a big reputation the now 26-year-old’s career looked to be on a downward trajectory when the injury-hit forward returned to Brazil to join Corinthians in 2013.
Signing the Duck: Alex Pato a step too far for Premier League pantomime
Barney Ronay
Read more
However, Pato is now injury-free and having scored 26 goals in 59 matches during a loan spell with São Paulo, he claims he is ready to return to European football.
Corinthians are reportedly ready to sell the Brazil international in January, with Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool said to be among the interested parties.
“Before I came to Italy to play for Milan in 2007 I saw in the papers that my name was mentioned in connection with some English clubs,” he said in interviews with the Mail on Sunday and Sunday Telegraph.
“I was told Chelsea were interested but my dream was to play with [the Brazilian] Ronaldo. When Milan called my manager, I wanted to go there to make my dreams of playing with Ronaldo and [Paolo] Maldini come true.
“But one day I knew I would like to come to England because I think the Premier League is the number one in the world. It is very competitive. I like the emotion in the English league. You look at the TV and you see the stadium and the fans,” Pato added. “My dream is to come back to Europe. I think it has to be to a club that plays to be champions. That challenges and has ambition.”