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."