Alexandre Pato: The Boy Star

In the first semifinal of the tournament Egyptians Al-Ahly, champions of the African Champions League, meet the Internacional of Porto Alegre, champions of the Libertadores. The Brazilians are quickly ahead on the scoreboard with a goal of Alexandre Pato, a boy of 17 years who is a complete unknown in the football world. Inter win and awaiting them in the final are Barça, the clear favorite. 1-0 for Inter and a tremendous surprise, Alexandre announces himself with a partidazo, repeatedly driving Puyol and company to despair. From anonymity to stardom in only 4 days, but in Brazil he had already left his seal of quality months before.

Alexandre Rodrígues da Silva (2-9-89, Pato Branco, Brazil) was born in Pato Branco, in the state of Parana, which is how he gets his nickname “Pato”. At the early age of 3 he was already playing futsal (indoor football) in a team of his city, and at 11 his overwhelming talent caught the eye of Internacional scouts, who offered him the possibility of going to Porto Alegre. In the junior ranks he always showed himself to be a born goalscorer, emphasizing his elegant touch on the ball and his creativity in dribbling. It didn’t take long to make the jump to the first team at 17 years and, after a shining performance with the Brazilian youth selection in the Sendai Cup in Japan, it seemed that the Japanese country has a special meaning for Pato.

His debut in the Internacional jersey took place on the 26th of November of 2006 in the stadium of Palmeiras, a minute and a half after stepping onto the Paulista field he touched his first ball and converted it into a goal. He had time to gift two assists and so finish the scoring with a favorable 1-4, flashes of stardom that allowed him to be chosen for the World Club Cup and also to increase his contract that went from less than 600 to 5000 euros annually through 2009. This shield is due to the great interest the beardless boy has awoken among the greats of Europe. Milan (Ancelotti in person was following his development at the U-20 World Cup in Canada), Arsenal, Chelsea, Barça or Real Madrid are some of the clubs that have asked for him.

During the U-20 World Cup, in addition to Milan, Read Madrid made an approach and Marcelo, a Merengue player and a companion of Pato in the Canarinha jerseys of Brazil, declared that “Alex would be a great acquisition for Madrid, he’s very young and will be a benchmark in a very short time, he has all the qualities to succeed in La Liga." The striker is flattered by the supposed interest and responds that “a club of the greatness and the history of Real Madrid is interested in me is fantastic, who wouldn’t like to play there?” His exit price is based around the 20 million euro mark, so whoever is going to take him is going to have to drive a hard bargain or put a large quantity of money on the table.

In the absence of official confirming an offer, they don’t stop raining praises on Pato. His colleague in the attack of Inter, Pedro Iarley, is still impressed by the gifts of Alex, “He’s incredible. I remember Ronaldo when he made debut with Cruzeiro. He is quick, powerful, a goalscorer and plays well with both feet. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen a player with so many qualities together”. His coach, Fernando Carvalho, is also quick to comment that “He is a phenomenon, a mixture of Rafael Sobis, Nilmar and Dani Carvalho. His future is enormous”.

If in their day the great rival of Internacional, Gremio of Porto Alegre, had the honor of the football development of Ronaldinho, Inter can now be conceited and be proud to have in their ranks the best and most promising Brazilian youngster of the moment in the Brasileirao (the Brazilian League). Nobody believes that Pato will wait until 2009 to cross the Atlantic, and this summer it is very possible that he undertakes the European adventure. Who acquires him will have to wait with patience his adaptation given his youth.

And finally the big day comes. The Red and Black of Milan have won the chase, putting down the reported fee of 20 million to euros to bring Pato to Italy. Although he will not be available for competitive matches until January he’ll be joining an impressive Brazilian contingent at Milanello. In particular he’ll look for leadership and inevitably draw comparisons to the player who inspires the Milan armada, Kaká.

El Garoto (The Boy) who graduated in Japan wants to conquer Europe and knows very well the weapons needed to obtain it. He is not missing the quality and desire for the challenge. He will not disappoint.