Pato, the once in a generation Brazilian striker who now has to watch Fred and Jo take the place that might have been his
http://teqmag.blogspot.com/2014/06/pato-once-in-generation-brazilian.html
It was in
Zurich, in October 2007, that Brazil were awarded this World Cup and
some 180 miles south of Fifa’s sumptuous headquarters a teenage
footballer must have been struck by more than a tinge of excitement.
For a then 17-year-old Alexandre Rodrigues da Silva, now better known as Pato, the timing could not have been more perfect.
Come the finals in 2014 he would be 24-years-old, and by then the prominent figure in Brazil’s attack.
Waste: Pato was on course to become a star for Brazil, but his talent never came to fruition
Fresh-faced: A 17-year-old Pato signing for AC Milan. At that point the world was at his feet
Turnaround: Italian police defend the teenager from adoring fans - now he needs protection from being attacked
Only
he is not here in Belo Horizonte preparing for what promises to be a
thrilling last 16 encounter with Chile on Saturday night.
Seven years on and one of the most exciting forwards in Brazil’s rich history is nowhere to be seen.
Fred and Hulk are in the team. Jo, yes Jo, is in the squad.
But
Pato? He’s out in the cold, ignored by Luiz Felipe Scolari and now in
permanent need of two bodyguards to protect him from angry football
supporters who it is claimed tried to attack him, together with a couple
of team-mates, on the streets of Sao Paulo.
It
does seem like a scandalous waste of talent. Massimo Franchi, a much
respected football writer for the Italian sports newspaper Tuttosport,
remembers watching him train at AC Milan’s Milanello training ground
around the time of Brazil being awarded the World Cup. ‘He was
delicious,’ recalls Franchi. ‘So good.’
Good start: Pato had a strong first few years in Italy, scoring 48 goals in his first 105 games for Milan
Big stage: Pato played regularly for Milan in the Champions League after his big money transfer
Past and future: Pato, here training with selecao legend Ronaldinho, was hailed as the future of Brazilian football
Pato grew up in Pato Branco, a city in western Brazil in the sub-tropical state of Parana.
It
is from his home town that he gained his adopted name, only leaving
Pato Branco to join Internacional in Porto Alegre in June 2006.
He
would prove an instant success, scoring on his debut inside the first
minute and at 17 featuring in the squad that lifted the 2006 FIFA Club
World Cup.
Better
still in the eyes of Internacional fans, he would then score in both
legs of the final to secure the club’s first Recopa Sudamericana.
Out
here in Brazil last week Avram Grant recalled being dispatched to Porto
Alegre by Roman Abramovich to recruit Pato for Chelsea.
‘The
moment they knew Chelsea were interested they started demanding crazy
money, so we walked away,’ said Grant. ‘But boy was he good. So quick.
Great feet. Whoosh!’
Instead Pato moved to Milan, signing in August 2007 for close to £20million.
Fall from grace: The striker's final years in Italy were blighted by injury limiting his playing time and development
Troubled: The break-down of Pato's marriage to Sthefany Brito after just nine months led to a difficult time
The boss: Pato started dating Barbara Berlusconi soon after the end of his marriage putting a strain on his team
Special Relationship: Even going out with Barbara Berlusconi was not enough to keep Pato's place
Party boy: The striker's wild lifestyle has seen him linked with many women including Debora Lyra, Miss Brazil 2010
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