Former Milan striker Pato is ‘happy in Orlando’ but admits Paolo Maldini knows that he is ‘ready’ to return to San Siro.
The Brazilian striker is under contract with Orlando City until December 2022 but dreams of a return to his former club. Pato joined Milan in January 2008, scoring 63 goals in 150 appearances.
Despite a strong and promising start, his spell at Milan went downhill through the years s the Brazilian left the Rossoneri in 2013, joining Corinthians. What would he change about his time at the club?
“I’d ask my parents to remain with me in Milan,” the Brazilian striker told La Gazzetta dello Sport.
“The club gave me all they could, I love Milan, but I was alone in difficult moments. I was very young when I arrived. My parents spent some time with me, but then they returned to Brazil. Had they been with me, I would have received more support.”
Would he like to return to the club?
“I feel well in Orlando and I have a contract here, but Maldini knows that I am ready [to return],” said Pato.
“I am more mature, I have a different attitude towards football and I could be more useful for young players.
“I miss Italy and the Italians. I always tell my wife: ‘One day, I’ll bring you to Italy and you’ll understand what I am talking about.’
“To me, Milano was a fundamental city. I’ve learned many things and I miss everything about Milan. I’d like to return to the club. After all, there are many players of a certain age in Serie A.”
The Rossoneri face Inter in the second leg of the Coppa Italia semi-final tonight. What game does he expect?
“It’s a difficult one and Milan can’t make mistakes,” he said.
“They can win the title and beating their rivals in Coppa Italia would give them extra motivation.
“Olivier Giroud is strong, Rafael Leao must make the right moves. The game will be open, it’s always like this against Inter.
“I played in a team full of champions. This Milan side is improving and has a bright future because the directors are building the team well.”
Milan are the Serie A table leaders with a two-point lead over Inter, but Simone Inzaghi’s men have a game in hand. Pato won one Serie A title and one Italian Supercup during his time at Milan. He has 10 goals in 27 appearances with the Brazilian national team.
Pato: "Quanto mi piace il Milan dei giovani. Tifo per Leao, ma segna Giroud" #InterMilan #CoppaItalia https://t.co/NbpR3habIj
— La Gazzetta dello Sport (@Gazzetta_it) April 19, 2022
Please no! No more of these returns. We are not gonna become the retirement home of the retirement league. First Ibra then Pato? No thanks. These “fantasy” / “nostalgic” / “romantic” returns need to stop.
Look how Real Madrid treated club legends like Guti, Raul, Casillas, Ramos.. And look at their results. Unstoppable in Champions league and la liga.
The romance of Serie A is what we all love but it shouldn’t be like this. Totti, Maldini, Zanetti, Maradona, Di Natale. Those are stories of romance that we can appreciate. Not this retirement club stuff.
Great idea! Let’s get Jean-Pierre Papin back whilst we’re at it.
Why not? If budget is tight, hes on a free and has reasonable wage demands, he cant be any worse than the options on the right we currently have.
A few years ago would have been opportune to bring in Pato because any such gamble might have brought us the luck we relied on happening upon.
There is a structure and strategy in place now and Pato wouldn’t add anything to it.
Even forgot this guy is playing football. I`m 100% nobody at Milan wants him back LOL
Someone ought to tell him Barbara is no longer at the club.
Wow it will be nice to see him back at Milan because it already mature right now he can offer a lot to Malin why Milan can’t give him chance to come back