Pato, the latest teenage sensation from Brazil, waiting in the wings at AC Milan

He started playing at the age of three, joined his first club at 11, and has been hailed as a future great by the legendary Pele. Can Alexandre Rodrigues da Silva live up to the hype?

It has taken just 15 years for Alexandre Rodrigues da Silva to progress his football career from an indoor school in Brazil, where he started at the age of three, to his present status as blossoming world star at AC Milan.

He joined Internatcional in Porto Alegre at the age of 11, living in dormitories with scores of other young hopefuls and playing for the youth teams. But in November, last year, he made his first team debut for Internacional at the age of 17, helping them to a 4-1 win over Palmeiras.

Pato created three of the goals and scored the other goal himself to announce his arrival to the world. His appearance spotlighted the young fantasist and created expectations and comparisons with various Brazilian superstars like Kaka and Ronaldinho.

He scored Internacional's first goal of the FIFA Club World Cup on December 13 in the semi-final game against Al-Ahly Cairo, helping his team to win the match 2-1 for a place in the final, which Internacional went on to win.

Pato was destined to join AC Milan and it was no surprise when he signed for them in August in a deal said to be around 22million Euros, which was the minimum buy-out clause in his Internacional contract.

But because of Italian football regulations that state non-EU minors may not be registered in Italy, Pato will not be able to play official matches for Milan until January 3, 2008, when the Italian transfer window reopens. But he has started training with the team and is allowed to play in exhibition games (which he has already done, and scored).


He already has a glowing reputation among retired and active stars. His control, deft touches, power and work rate have been compared with Kaka, and his dribbling and passing accuracy with that of Ronaldinho. Even the legendary Pele described him as "an extraordinary player promising to be the most professional footballer the world has ever seen."

Galliani On Pato: I Am Told He Is Extraordinary

Milan Vice-President Adriano Galliani is excited over the prospect of Brazilian wonderkid Alexandre Pato and says that star-striker Ronaldo is recovering well from injury.

The 18-year-old Pato signed for Milan from Internacional in the summer. However due to Italian football regulations regarding non-EU minors, he is ineligible to play competitively for the European Champions until January.

Nicknamed ‘The Duck’, the translation of his surname and place of birth, Pato is regarded as one of the most exciting young prospects in world football in recent years.

"They tell me extraordinary things about him, the players as well as the coach and I read the same things on the newspapers,” said Galliani.

“However he is only 18, let's not put too much pressure on him and give him too much responsibility.

“His purchase was a very precise political decision on our part, we always believed in this player and we knew we had to wait four months for him when he was bought. In January we will see whether we made the right choice.”

Galliani also offered another update on Ronaldo’s injury situation. The ex-Real Madrid star has yet to play for the Rossoneri this season.

"The doctors tell me Ronaldo is doing well, as do Maldini, Serginho, Kaladze, and Digao. Unfortunately we have five players out at the moment, but they are all recovering," Galliani concluded.

Emerson: Pato Is The New Bebeto

Emerson has dubbed Pato the new Bebeto in a homage to both the AC Milan youngster and, perhaps, the former Deportivo La Coruna legend.

Bebeto, who scored 42 goals for Brazil between 1985 and 1998, is still held in extremely high regard in Brazil, and Emerson has signalled that Pato could one day do the same.

"For a 17 year old he displays great personality, and great class... I'd compare him to Bebeto, for his class and his ability to score," 'Puma' Emerson said of Pato.

Emerson played alongside Bebeto in the 1998 World Cup finals squad, and could potentially do the same with Pato in three years' time.

For now, though, he is focused on AC Milan, complete with its own contingent of samba stars.

In an online chat session with fans on ACMilan.com, he said, "I'm feeling very happy here in Milan.

"And with all these Brazilians [Kaka, Pato etc.] I feel even more at home.

"[Carlo] Ancelotti is a great coach, too. He knows how to instill great calm and tranquility into the squad, says the right things, and does well by the players on the pitch.

"[Former coach at Real Madrid Fabio] Capello is a very serious boss, but Ancelotti jokes around with us players, and the atmosphere is generally more relaxed."

Emerson, 31, was accused by some Madrid fans of being over the hill last season, but the ex-Juventus midfielder insists that this is far from the truth.

"My physical preparation at the moment is fine," he claimed.

"My desire today is the same as it was with the club that launched my professional career, Gremio of Porto Alegre."

Emerson, looking back to his own days of a 17 year old, claimed that his own mentor growing up was Zico, who scored 66 goals in 88 appearances for Brazil.

PATO PLEASED TO BE OFF THE MARK

AC Milan youngster Alexandre Pato is delighted to have scored his first goal for the Rossoneri, albeit in a friendly.

The 17-year-old Brazilian, who joined the European champions in the summer, netted in his side's 2-2 draw with Dynamo Kiev in a match to mark the 80th birthday of the Ukrainian club.

Pato, who scored in the 44th minute, told www.acmilan.com from the Dynamo training camp: "It's not the first time I have scored with my head.

"I got a similar goal for the Brazil Under-20 side. I remain at the disposition of the team. I can play as an out and out striker and I also like to communicate with my team-mates in midfield."

Ancelotti Gushing Over Pato Debut

Carlo Ancelotti was full of praise for Alexandre Pato following the Brazilian's impressive debut in a Milan shirt.

Alexandre Pato made a great debut in yesterday's friendly against Dinamo Kiev, even scoring with a first half header to spark Milan's comeback, and Carlo Ancelotti could not be more delighted.

"Alexandre played very well and immediately showed his quality," Ancelotti told Milan Channel. "You can see that he is a talented player, both with and without the ball.

"All he needs to do is gain experience as he is so quick, agile and cunning. Aerial balls aren’t his speciality, but he netted from a header.

"He can do anything in attack as he reads the game well and comes to get the ball."

Alberto Gilardino scored Milan's second goal, and the much-criticized striker was pleased: "It’s always nice to score, even in a friendly.

"We played well and Pato integrated quickly. He’s a great player with so much technical ability for his age."

Alexandre Pato Goal for AC Milan

Pato Scores As Milan Share Spoils With Dinamo Kiev

Dinamo Kiev celebrated their 80th anniversary by playing a friendly against European champions AC Milan, which finished 2-2.

Milan came from two goals down to secure a draw against Dynamo Kiev in the friendly to mark the 80th anniversary of the Ukrainian club.

With former Milan striker Andriy Shevchenko watching from the sidelines, much-hyped Brazilian wonder-kid Alexandre Pato made an impressive debut, even scoring a goal.

The Milan defence had serious difficulties at the start, as Dinamo opened the scoring after only six minutes with a header by Artem Milevskiy, who was found all alone inside the area.

After some more chances for the home side, with Brazilian defender Digao making a crucial goal line clearance, Pato fashioned a chance for Milan out of nothing in the 19th minute.

However, his assist found Alberto Gilardino in an offside position, so his 'goal' was called off.

Two minutes after that, it was 2-0 for the home side, as Goran Gavrancic fired a precise diagonal shot after a scrappy move.

Following the second goal Milan improved, and Pato had his first shot on goal, a left-footer which required the goalkeeper to make a good save, in the 23rd minute.

Shortly thereafter, Pato was again in the spotlight, as he played a nice one-two with Pierre Aubameyang, but fired his shot wide from a good position.

The impressive young Brazilian finally got his reward just before half-time, as he headed in a cross from the right by Daniele Bonera to give Milan a lifeline going into the second half.

Only five minutes into the restart, Gilardino finally got his long-awaited goal, as he controlled the ball with his chest, before dribbling past the goalkeeper and slotting into an empty net.

There were to be no more goals after this equaliser, although Pato continued to impress, distributing precise passes and showing strong overall technique. There were also some moments of glory for long-time Milan substitute keeper Valerio Fiori, who was on hand to prevent Dinamo making 3-2 on several occasions in the final part of the game.

In the final minutes, there was even some room for coach Carlo Ancelotti's son Davide, who plays with the Milan youth team and came in two minutes before the end of this match.


Starting Formations:

DINAMO KIEV (4-4-2): Rybka; Fedorov, Ghioane, Shatskikh, Milevskiy, Vaschchuk, Gavrancic, Ninkovic, Yussuf, Marcovic, Maikl.
COACH: Demyanenko.
AVAILABLE: Garmashi, Klèber, Belkevich, Aliev, Lutsenko, Eschhenko, Rodrigo.

MILAN (4-4-2): Kalac; Bonera, Nesta, Digao, Favalli; Cafu, Brocchi, Emerson, W. Aubameyang; Pato, Gilardino.
COACH: Ancelotti.
AVAILABLE: Fiori, D. Ancelotti, Furlan, Caraglia, Rampinini, Cosner, P. Aubameyang.

Alexandre Pato Pictures

RONALDO WANTS QUICK DEBUT FOR PATO

AC Milan striker Ronaldo is convinced his new team-mate and fellow Brazilian Alexandre Pato is already capable of playing in Serie A.

Pato, 17, was signed from Internacional last week but will not be eligible for the Milan first team until after Christmas.

Ronaldo, 30, believes that when he is eligible Pato should immediately be blooded by the Rossoneri.

Ronaldo told www.gazzetta.it: "I think he (Pato) is ready for our championship.

"There are no norms that say if you do not weight enough or are not old enough - it depends what you can do with the ball."

(re-opens) Another AC Milan striker, Alberto Gilardino, also believes Pato has great potential.

"Pato must not fear anything," the Italian World Cup winner told the club's official website, www.acmilan.com.

"I saw him on TV, he has great qualities. We must let him work with tranquility without putting any pressure on him and I think he can become a great player.

"He already is and in this environment he can become even greater."

Alexandre Pato To Milan Report

Gilardion Believes In Pato Power

AC Milan forward Alberto Gilardino has become the latest Rossonero to sing the praises of the club’s new signing Alexandre Pato.

The 20m euro acquisition of the Brazilian teenage sensation certainly has caught the imagination of everyone involved at the club and ‘Gila’ believes that Pato has everything it takes to become a future great.

"He has great quality and we must leave him alone to work without any pressure,” said the Azzurri striker, who hasn't exactly had the easiest time dealing with the pressure of being a high profile Milan signing himself.

“He's already a great player and in this atmosphere I'm sure he can still become even better," Gilardino added.

Due to Italian football regulations that state non-EU minors may not be registered in Italy, Pato will not be able to play official matches for Milan until January 3, 2008. He will, however, be eligible to start training with his new teammates starting on September 3, one day after his 18th birthday.

AC Milan signs Brazil teenager Pato, Chiellini staying at Juve

MILAN, Italy: AC Milan has signed Brazilian under-20 striker Alexandre Pato on a five-year contract.

Milan reportedly paid Brazil's Internacional €22 million (US$30 million) for the 17-year-old Pato, who was also being chased by Inter Milan, Real Madrid and Chelsea. He will earn €2 million (US$2.73 million) per season.

"He's a great talent," Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti said Friday at news conference in Moscow where the Rossoneri are playing a preseason tournament with Lokomotiv Moscow, PSV Eindhoven, and Real. "He has quality but is seen as a prospect."

Pato, who is expected to arrive in Milan on Saturday, will not be able to represent his new club in official games until January because of licensing restrictions. He will be eligible for friendly matches from Sept. 3, a day after his 18th birthday.

"Pato is a young guy, very good, but he has to be left the necessary time to grow and mature," Ancelotti said. "Milan decided to invest in a young man that can help us in the future, because the European Champion team is fine as it is and difficult to improve."

Alexandre Pato

Alexandre Rodrigues da Silva (born September 2, 1989, in Pato Branco, Paraná), better known as Alexandre Pato, is a Brazilian striker who has been playing for Internacional since 2002.

His nickname, The Duck, comes from the city where he was born, Pato Branco (which translates as White Duck).

Alexandre started playing indoor football (futsal) in his hometown at the age of 3. Soon his ability became known all around the south Brazilian state of Paraná and after being praised by many of his managers, the teenager went to Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, to try out for Sport Club Internacional.

In 2002, at the age of 13, he moved there and started sharing housing with 83 other teenagers that, much like him, wanted to make a name for themselves in the Inter first team.He supports Scottish club Celtic F.C

Alexandre Pato Wallpapers

Alexandre Pato Pictures