Alexandre Pato is reportedly subject to interest from his first club Internacional. The Gaúcho club has apparently made contact with Corinthians to express an interest in taking their academy product back to Porto Alegre, with his Timão contract set to expire in January.
Pato has spent five months on loan at Chelsea and two years on loan at São Paulo since Corinthians decided to dispense with his services in early 2014. However, they have been unable to find a permanent buyer and Pato’s contract is close to ending.
Pato has been on holiday in Brazil, with his loan deal at Chelsea to expire on Friday, his future remains uncertain. Reports in Brazil suggest that Inter are willing to take Pato on a free transfer in the hope that Corinthians will be happy just to move his sizeable salary from the books.
However, Corinthians are not thought to be keen to sell to a domestic rival, especially as Inter look set to contest for the Brasileirão title this year. The player himself is known to be set on a move to Europe, having already turned down a big money move to China.
He says he would be willing to play in a secondary European league, such as Russia or Portugal, in order to facilitate that dream. Pato joined Inter as an eleven year old before A.C Milan snapped him up aged 18 in 2007.
Pato’s agent has been coy on the reports, insisting that his client is still holding out for an offer from Chelsea, “Pato’s already agreed deals with Internacional, Sao Paulo, Palmeiras, Flamengo.. but how is he going to sign for someone else when he has a contract at Chelsea until the 30th? He has a document there with a four-year contract that Chelsea will exercise if they want.
“I don’t know if they will do that; I’m not Roman Abramovich. If they don’t buy him, it will be up to Corinthians to decide what to do. Pato is on holiday, waiting to find out his future.”
