AC Milan Reportedly Agrees to Send Alexandre Pato to Corinthians
Well, it looks like AC Milan is wasting no time making huge moves in the January transfer season. According to Goal.com's Twitter feed, the club has agreed to send Alexandre Pato to Corinthians after the striker came to terms on a four-year contract with his new team:
"OFFICIAL: Alexandre Pato has signed for Corinthians from AC Milan for €15 million, on a four-year contract! More to follow...
— Goal.com(@goal_intl) January 3, 2013"
A possible transfer for Pato had been bubbling under the surface for a while now and had heated up recently. Pato's agent, Gilmar Veloz, reportedly said Milan had given their blessing on the move to Corinthians on a Brazilian radio show on Thursday (h/t Sky Sports):
"Milan gave the okay to the transfer, we are defining the details. Nothing can hinder the successful conclusion of the deal. It is a large transfer which concerns a good young player and Corinthians are making a big effort.
"
A 23-year-old striker, Pato will undoubtedly hope that this transfer will revitalize his career. As a member of the Brazilian national team, Pato emerged as one of the best young forwards in the world and was considered a possible building block for Milan.
However, Pato has fallen out of favor the past two years with his Serie A club and has played sparingly during those campaigns. Last season, a thigh injury cut Pato's time with the club short and he has struggled to reclaim his dominance since.
Still dealing with his injury, Pato has appeared in only four Serie A matches and has failed to record a goal in any of them. Even when seemingly fully healthy, he has lacked the form he showed early in his career.
Corinthians undoubtedly hopes an impending return to his home country will revitalize Pato's career. Whether that happens remains to be seen. However, based on the fee the Brazilian club is paying and the money Pato stands to make, it seems like Corinthians has a whole lot of faith in Pato's future.
