Former AC Milan Legend Alexandre Pato Signs For MLS Outfit Orlando City

With the 2021 Major League Soccer season set to begin in April, Orlando City just improved its Brazilian contingent.

Former AC Milan forward Alexandre Pato joined the franchise on a one-year deal, a report on the club’s official website announced on Saturday.

“We are very excited to welcome Pato to Orlando. He’s a veteran player who has featured at some of the top clubs around the world and has a proven track record at the international level. The experience that Pato brings with him will be invaluable to the Club”, said Orlando City EVP of Soccer Operations Luiz Muzzi.

The 31-years-old striker joins the Lions after the termination of his contract with Brazilian side Sao Paulo last August, ending his second stint at the club with nine goals scored in 35 appearances. 

It was not an easy choice for the former Brazil international, who received several offers from various clubs around the world.

Over the past two months, Pato was reportedly close to Argentinian side Argentinos Juniors, Iraqi club Al Diwaniya and Turkish Sivasspor, but he eventually chose the offer from the United States.

In his prime, Pato was considered one of the brightest soccer talents in the world.

The striker was the most highly-rated young prospect to be ever sold by a Brazilian team when he left SC Internacional for Serie A giant AC Milan in 2007.

Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who was the president of the Rossoneri at that time, paid a whopping $25.40 million to take him to San Siro.

And with reason, given that the Brazilian repaid his trust by scoring 57 goals and 18 assists in his first 125 matches for AC Milan from 2008 to 2011.

However, a series of injuries derailed his last season in Milan, where he was not able to perform continuously at his previous level.

To add insult to injury, his private life ended up on the covers of all the gossip magazines of Italy when in 2010 he began dating Barbara Berlusconi, AC Milan director and daughter of club owner Silvio.

“A small injury eventually became a very big thing. I lost faith, I felt a little lonely because they blamed me” he said to Goal.com.

From then on, his career went downhill and Pato was not able to live up to his full potential.

After largely unsuccessful stints back in Brazil at Corinthians and Sao Paulo, Pato moved back to Europe, joining Premier League
PINC
side FC Chelsea on loan in 2016 and Spanish Villarreal CF the year after.

However, his return to Europe was not as good as expected and in 2017 he moved to Chinese Super League side Tianjin Tianhai, where he rediscovered his scoring touch with 30 goals in 47 caps in all competitions.

Nevertheless, his career is really impressive. Pato won five club honors in his career, including the Italian Serie A title and the 2006 Club World Cup with Brazilian side Internacional.

Additionally, he has been capped 27 times at senior level by Brazil, netting 10 goals.

Only time will tell if Pato will be a great addition to Orlando, who fell to New England Revolution in the Eastern Conference semifinals last season.

If the Brazilian will commit seriously to his new team, he can be an added value for Orlando’s coach Oscar Pareja.

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