São Paulo loanee Alexandre Pato disappointed to be barred from playing against owners Corinthians

São Paulo loanee Alexandre Pato has admitted he is disappointed to be barred from playing against owners Corinthians. The forward, who will remain with São Paulo until December, missed their 2-0 defeat to Corinthians in the Copa Libertadores second stage and will not be allowed to feature when they meet in the reverse fixture at […]
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sambafoot_admin
2015-03-11 17:43:00

São Paulo loanee Alexandre Pato has admitted he is disappointed to be barred from playing against owners Corinthians.

The forward, who will remain with São Paulo until December, missed their 2-0 defeat to Corinthians in the Copa Libertadores second stage and will not be allowed to feature when they meet in the reverse fixture at Estádio Cícero Pompeu de Toledo in April.

For Pato, the clause preventing him from playing against Corinthians is a huge frustration and he believes that such rulings should not be allowed.

“It’s sad not to be able to play,” he said, as reported by website Xinhuanet.

“It’s such a special match that means so much to fans of both clubs. These contractual clauses are not what football is about. You don’t see it in Europe.

“For the good of the game and the spectacle, players should be free to play. But it’s something we have to accept.”

Pato was signed by Corinthians from Milan for a reported fee of €15 million in January 2013. He managed 12 goals in 37 appearances for them, before moving on to São Paulo in February 2014, where he’s also netted 12 times, in 34 matches.

Corinthians are currently top of Copa Libertadores Group 2, with six points from two games, while São Paulo are level with San Lorenzo on three points and Danubio are yet to register.