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Calcio Debate: Why Can't AC Milan Afford To Sell Alexandre Pato To PSG?
Goal.com looks into why the Rossoneri just can't let their Brazilian striker leave in the January transfer window...
09-Jan-2012 12:01:00 AM
By Srinivasan Mohan
Panoramic
South America has been one of the breeding grounds for outrageously talented footballers for many years. The continent has produced some of the finest footballers to have ever graced the football pitch. The likes of Pele, Maradona, Ronaldo, Rivaldo, Romario etc. The list is just endless.
One may say that a golden generation of footballers come only once. But in Brazil’s case they are just waiting to take the place of the generation that has finished enthralling the world. Post the 2006 World Cup debacle, Brazil brought about sweeping changes into their side and form was considered before reputation. One person who had this form and talent in surplus was Alexandre Pato, nicknamed the Duck. Internacional unveiled him to the world as a 17 year old who went on to break Pele’s record for the youngest player to score in a FIFA organized competition.
This prompted the big guns in Europe to sit up and take notice. Here was another gem from Brazil destined to achieve big. But amidst all the jostling for Pato’s signature, Italian giants Milan won the race to bring the wonderkid to the Giuseppe Meazza.
He has impressed the Milan faithful and hierarchy every season so far with his pace, skill and tenacity to rake in 110 appearances for the club and 18 for country scoring 51 and 6 goals respectively, all at a tender age of 22.
One needs to just reminisce on Pato’s road runner like run against Barcelona at the Camp Nou to score 24 seconds into the game. Or the brace against Real Madrid in that famous win at the Spanish capital which brought belief into the Milan supporters that their club was going in the right direction after Carlo Ancelotti’s departure that season.
Like every player, he has had his tryst with a plague of injuries especially to his hamstring and thigh which ruled him out of crucial matches like the Champions League match against Manchester United at Old Trafford. Despite this, Pato continued to show the world just why Milan paid nearly 24 million Euros for his services.
Massimilliano Allegri’s appointment has breathed a new life into the Milan camp. Vibrant, attacking and exciting to watch! All the hallmarks of the typical Brazilian football.
Pato has somewhat seen less action than he would usually like this season. Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s form has been sublime to say the least. However, Antonio Cassano’s absence on the long run has automatically ensured that Pato would fill that place.
Nevertheless, as the January transfer window approached, rumours began to circulate that French moneybags PSG, now managed by former Milan and Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti, wanted Pato to join them in their revolution. In addition, Milan’s pursuits of Catania’s Maxi Lopez and Manchester City’s rebel Carlos Tevez added to the insecurity of the player at the Milan camp.
Mr. Ancelotti Will Be Keeping A Shrewd Eye On Pato!
Some may say that its time for Pato to seek fresher pastures at PSG under the helm of a manager who has been primarily responsible for his development. But Milan may end up losing a very vital piece of their jigsaw to reclaim the glories of Europe. Tevez for one is a bomb waiting to explode. Despite being part of one of the richest clubs in the world and at one point was scoring goals for fun, he chose to act strangely and disobey his manager’s orders on many an occasion.
Manchester City are taking baby steps in the path to win titles. But in a club with the history and quality in their side, such behaviour will severely tarnish the club’s reputation. Maxi Lopez, on the other hand, has got a new lease of life after his move to Catania. Tipped for big things when he moved to Barcelona, his career never really took off as he was loaned to Mallorca. Despite maintaining a relatively cleaner image than Tevez, he will have to settle into the Milan system and way of things something which Pato is accustomed to. Also the risk of the player failing to settle is another thing that would play on the minds of the Milan moguls.
Pato’s skills were on display again when Milan beat PSG courtesy a goal from the Duck in a friendly in Dubai which was also Ancelotti’s first game in-charge. Milan have qualified for the knockout stages of the Champions League and are also in the race for the Scudetto. The over reliance on Zlatan Ibrahimovic to produce the goods and Robinho’s erratic form warrants for Pato’s stay at Milan and would be imprudent to let such a key player leave to another club at a time when they would really need his energy, skill and finishing abilities in a team.
Do You Think Milan Can Afford To Lose Pato? Give In Your Views...
How do you stay up with football when on the move? With http://m.goal.com –your best source for mobile coverage of the beautiful game.
One may say that a golden generation of footballers come only once. But in Brazil’s case they are just waiting to take the place of the generation that has finished enthralling the world. Post the 2006 World Cup debacle, Brazil brought about sweeping changes into their side and form was considered before reputation. One person who had this form and talent in surplus was Alexandre Pato, nicknamed the Duck. Internacional unveiled him to the world as a 17 year old who went on to break Pele’s record for the youngest player to score in a FIFA organized competition.
This prompted the big guns in Europe to sit up and take notice. Here was another gem from Brazil destined to achieve big. But amidst all the jostling for Pato’s signature, Italian giants Milan won the race to bring the wonderkid to the Giuseppe Meazza.
He has impressed the Milan faithful and hierarchy every season so far with his pace, skill and tenacity to rake in 110 appearances for the club and 18 for country scoring 51 and 6 goals respectively, all at a tender age of 22.
One needs to just reminisce on Pato’s road runner like run against Barcelona at the Camp Nou to score 24 seconds into the game. Or the brace against Real Madrid in that famous win at the Spanish capital which brought belief into the Milan supporters that their club was going in the right direction after Carlo Ancelotti’s departure that season.
Like every player, he has had his tryst with a plague of injuries especially to his hamstring and thigh which ruled him out of crucial matches like the Champions League match against Manchester United at Old Trafford. Despite this, Pato continued to show the world just why Milan paid nearly 24 million Euros for his services.
Massimilliano Allegri’s appointment has breathed a new life into the Milan camp. Vibrant, attacking and exciting to watch! All the hallmarks of the typical Brazilian football.
Pato has somewhat seen less action than he would usually like this season. Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s form has been sublime to say the least. However, Antonio Cassano’s absence on the long run has automatically ensured that Pato would fill that place.
Nevertheless, as the January transfer window approached, rumours began to circulate that French moneybags PSG, now managed by former Milan and Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti, wanted Pato to join them in their revolution. In addition, Milan’s pursuits of Catania’s Maxi Lopez and Manchester City’s rebel Carlos Tevez added to the insecurity of the player at the Milan camp.
Some may say that its time for Pato to seek fresher pastures at PSG under the helm of a manager who has been primarily responsible for his development. But Milan may end up losing a very vital piece of their jigsaw to reclaim the glories of Europe. Tevez for one is a bomb waiting to explode. Despite being part of one of the richest clubs in the world and at one point was scoring goals for fun, he chose to act strangely and disobey his manager’s orders on many an occasion.
Manchester City are taking baby steps in the path to win titles. But in a club with the history and quality in their side, such behaviour will severely tarnish the club’s reputation. Maxi Lopez, on the other hand, has got a new lease of life after his move to Catania. Tipped for big things when he moved to Barcelona, his career never really took off as he was loaned to Mallorca. Despite maintaining a relatively cleaner image than Tevez, he will have to settle into the Milan system and way of things something which Pato is accustomed to. Also the risk of the player failing to settle is another thing that would play on the minds of the Milan moguls.
Trying To REPLACE Pato With Tevez Will Be A Gamble
Pato’s skills were on display again when Milan beat PSG courtesy a goal from the Duck in a friendly in Dubai which was also Ancelotti’s first game in-charge. Milan have qualified for the knockout stages of the Champions League and are also in the race for the Scudetto. The over reliance on Zlatan Ibrahimovic to produce the goods and Robinho’s erratic form warrants for Pato’s stay at Milan and would be imprudent to let such a key player leave to another club at a time when they would really need his energy, skill and finishing abilities in a team.
Do You Think Milan Can Afford To Lose Pato? Give In Your Views...
How do you stay up with football when on the move? With http://m.goal.com –your best source for mobile coverage of the beautiful game.
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