Saturday, August 4, 2007

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."

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