Pravir Singh
13th September, 2011. 24 seconds into the UEFA Champions League’s opening game for FC Barcelona and AC Milan and the Camp Nou looks on stunned. Alexandre Pato put the Rossoneri ahead in what was one of his finest moments before slipping into obscurity. A career that started young and looked so promising has been plagued with various injuries. The 26-year-old Brazilian, who currently plays for Sao Paolo on loan from Corinthians, has been linked with a move to the Premier League.
Pato signed for Milan in August 2007 just before his eighteenth birthday and scored in is Serie A debut versus Napoli. The following season, he ended up as Milan’s top scorer with 18 goals. Although signed as a striker, Pato often played on the wing for Milan and it was playing in this position that he was awarded the 2009 Serie A Young Footballer of the Year.
United have been struggling in front of goal this season having failed to score in three consecutive matches for the first time since 2005. Louis Van Gaal’s tactics and the form of Wayne Rooney have come under scrutiny from pundits and former players alike. Following the goalless draw against Palace, West Brom were the only team to have hit fewer shots than Manchester United in the Premier League. After letting Robin Van Persie, Javier Hernandez and Radamel Falcao all leave in the beginning of the season, United have failed to really sign a replacement apart from Anthony Martial. Rooney and Martial have shared the 9 number role this season, but with the Captain having an underwhelming season so far, it’s not gone well in front of goal for United. A lot of that does have to do with the style of football Louis Van Gaal wants his players to play, focussing on a possession game.
The Brazilian trickster has a lot of pace and he can be deployed on the wing as well just behind the main striker. That being said, who will he displace from United’s XI. Anthony Martial has been brilliant and there’s no way Pato can displace him from the squad. Rooney is the captain and despite his poor run, LVG has stuck with him. A move I agree with personally. Herrera has often been made a scapegoat despite his good performances and Mata’s been having a poor run in recent games. Despite this, I don’t think Pato is good enough to start especially seeing how Jesse Lingard has stepped up. It would also be a big gamble to take. Not only did injuries hamper his career in the Serie A, he has been criticized in by the Corinthians Fan Club for not taking his chances. He also took an absolutely pathetic penalty which knocked his team out of the Copa Do Brasil.
Apart from United, the Brazillian has also been linked with a move to Liverpool. According to The Mirror, the Corinthians club President claimed that Liverpool have agreed a deal in principal to sign Pato. It’ll be interesting to see where he plays next season.
