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AC Milan Star Alexandre Pato Hints At Future Move To Chelsea
Feb 25, 2010 9:27:00 PM
Brazilian striker also backs Milan to beat Man Utd in Champions League
EXCLUSIVEBy Amar Singh
Alexandre Pato today declined to rule out a future move to England hinting that Chelsea, who are managed by his former coach Carlo Ancelotti, would be the most likely destination.
The 20–year-old AC Milan striker was pursued by the Blues last summer, and reportedly still tops Ancelotti and Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich’s shopping list and could cost the Blues a record £50 million should they swoop for him this summer.
Pato, when asked if he could ever see himself playing in England one day, told Goal.com UK: “I follow English football a lot and Ancelotti, the coach who brought me to Milan is in England now at Chelsea. I love London.”
Pato regards the Chelsea boss as a father figure and when he was unsettled at Milan last summer, he insisted that he would decide his future after speaking with Ancelotti.
A bid for £38m was knocked back by Milan and a move was scuppered at the last minute by Silvio Berlusconi, who had pledged to the fans he would not lose his other Brazilian star after Kaka moved to Real Madrid.
Ancelotti is believed to remain keen on bringing his former wonderkid to Stamford Bridge and believes the pacey, young striker could form a formidable partnership with Didier Drogba.
Father & son | Pato praises Carletto's mentoring
Despite hinting at a future move to Chelsea, Pato insisted that currently he is focused on AC Milan – and he is confident the Italian giants can knock Manchester United out of Champions League next month.
“At this point I am focused on AC Milan. I am very happy after two years there and have 100 per cent adapted to life in Italy.
“We have a big game coming up against Manchester United. It will be a very hard game, I respect Manchester United as a team but I am sure we will be able to beat them.”
He gave special praise to two of AC Milan’s veteran superstars, Ronaldinho and David Beckham.
“It’s been a dream for me to play with players who when I was a kid, I looked up to them," he said.
"By playing with Beckham I can use the best part of his game. His long passing is the best and he will always find me."
Dream team | Pato pays tribute to Becks' passing
Pato is one of a host of strikers including Luis Fabiano and Robinho competing for a place in Dunga’s Brazil team ahead of the 2010 World Cup.
He said: “I hope I will play. I respect the coach and his decision’s but I am sure that if I go to the World Cup, I will contribute.”
When asked if he thought resurgent Milan team-mate Ronaldinho deserved to be recalled to the national team, Pato responded: “Ronaldinho is a great player but it is not for me to make a decision.”
Pato was speaking at a Nike event in London. The sportswear giant revealed a series of new national team kits ahead of the 2010 World Cup.
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Live!
Champions League final - LIVE!
German giants Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund will battle it out at Wembley for European glory. Get involved by sending us your thoughts via Twitter or Facebook! Hosted by Mark Doyle.
11:08 PM BST
Right, that's just about it from me, folks. Thank you so much for all your contributions. We hyped this one up. We said it was going to showcase everything that is great about German football. And you know what? It delivered. It was an absolutely absorbing final between the continent's top two sides, a fitting conclusion to what has been a fantastic tournament. Impossible not to feel so, so sorry for Dortmund but they need only to look at what Bayern have done tonight, lifting the trophy just 12 months after throwing it away, to see that it's possible to bounce back from this kind of devastation.
But Bayern deserve this. They've paid their dues and nobody can dispute that they are the best team in Europe. Bayern, we salute you. Over to everyone else now to try to come up with a way to beat this most wonderfully balanced of sides! But, until next season, good night - and good luck.
But Bayern deserve this. They've paid their dues and nobody can dispute that they are the best team in Europe. Bayern, we salute you. Over to everyone else now to try to come up with a way to beat this most wonderfully balanced of sides! But, until next season, good night - and good luck.
11:00 PM BST
Dortmund boss Jurgen Klopp has finally faced the press and, judging by his comments, is a tad upset with perhaps something other than the final scoreline.
"First and foremost, congratulations to Bayern Munich because they won so it's not important to speak about what happened in the game," he told ITV1. "After the game you have to respect the result and that's what we do now.
"I didn't see (Robben's) goal. It was a free-kick and we were not in the right formation at that moment. It was late in the game and it has been a really hard season for us. But Bayern Munich had to fight too. We deserved to be in the final and we showed this tonight."
"First and foremost, congratulations to Bayern Munich because they won so it's not important to speak about what happened in the game," he told ITV1. "After the game you have to respect the result and that's what we do now.
"I didn't see (Robben's) goal. It was a free-kick and we were not in the right formation at that moment. It was late in the game and it has been a really hard season for us. But Bayern Munich had to fight too. We deserved to be in the final and we showed this tonight."
10:56 PM BST
Sir Alex Ferguson also has a new job... Well, kind of. The former Manchester United boss was entrusted with the honour of presenting the man of the match award after the game and relished the task: "It's my first job since I retired and it's a pleasure!"
Robben humbly received his accolade before commenting: "I think it’s such a shame a world-class trainer is leaving the game." Quite.
Robben humbly received his accolade before commenting: "I think it’s such a shame a world-class trainer is leaving the game." Quite.
10:51 PM BST
Heynckes, class act that he is, was also quick to empathise with a devastated Dortmund.
"I told their players: I know your disappointment after losing a final. I lost a final to Liverpool, too.
"During the first half we had trouble to get into the game. At half-time a adjusted our play. I think both teams felt pressure. If you see that you have a 25-point-lead in the league, it is normal you are the favourite. But after 30 minutes we freed ourselves.
"Over the past year, we improved and improved. We improved and modified so many details. I was stricter and I have to say that the players followed me and there is harmony in the dressing room."
"I told their players: I know your disappointment after losing a final. I lost a final to Liverpool, too.
"During the first half we had trouble to get into the game. At half-time a adjusted our play. I think both teams felt pressure. If you see that you have a 25-point-lead in the league, it is normal you are the favourite. But after 30 minutes we freed ourselves.
"Over the past year, we improved and improved. We improved and modified so many details. I was stricter and I have to say that the players followed me and there is harmony in the dressing room."
10:48 PM BST
And finally we get to hear from Bayern Munich boss Jupp Heynckes, who will be replaced by Pep Guardiola this summer.
The big news is, though, that he seems to have a job lined up for himself, which restores one's faith in our fickle game, given the man is now a two-time Champions League winner!
"The decision on what I will do after the DFB Pokal match (against Stuttgart next saturday) was already taken last June? Retire? No, you will learn that after the DFB Pokal final."
The big news is, though, that he seems to have a job lined up for himself, which restores one's faith in our fickle game, given the man is now a two-time Champions League winner!
"The decision on what I will do after the DFB Pokal match (against Stuttgart next saturday) was already taken last June? Retire? No, you will learn that after the DFB Pokal final."
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