Alexandre Pato to succeed in Serie A where fellow countrymen have failed

Date: 25th July 2014 at 7:59am
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Pato - CorinthiansThey say in life never go back, and in football the phrase often seems far too accurate given the number of times a fading star has attempted to recapture past glories by returning to the scene of previous successes only to ultimately fail.

However, with former AC Milan striker Alexandre Pato rumoured for a Serie A return he could well become one of the few to buck the trend, just as full-back Maicon did last summer when returning from Manchester City to help guide Roma to second and regaining his place with Brazil after initially making the squad behind Dani Alves.

Linked with Premier League pair Arsenal and Tottenham his most likely destination remains Italy, with Inter and Juventus inquiring as to his availability, in fact the Serie A champions bid for the Brazilian in January, but more recently Sampdoria provide a more low profile setting for his redemption.

The fear is that, like fellow high-profile Brazilians, he will once again disappoint despite the youngster promising so much the first time around; however, his circumstances are somewhat different from some of his predecessors, although touched with subtle parallels.

Fellow youth protégé Adriano was quickly heading to Italy in 2001, but after starring for Parma and Inter things quickly began to unravel for the striker at the Nerazzurri and he soon found himself back in Brazil with first club Flamengo after a short stint on loan at Sao Paulo.

When seemingly rectifying his career back in his homeland the call from the Italian capital came in 2010 in the form of Roma, offering the powerful frontman a €5m-a-year deal over three seasons, yet within seven months, and no goals, his contract had been terminated and he was back in Brazil, his career effectively over.

In contrast, when fellow Inter striker Ronaldo left Inter in 2002 it was under entirely different circumstances, Real Madrid paying €46m for the man who had just shot Brazil to World Cup glory.

After a mixed spell with the Spanish giants The Phenomenon was back on Italian shores in January 2007 with city rivals Milan scoring 7 times in 14 Serie A appearances indicating it was a gamble worth taking, however, fitness issues which had plagued his career resurfaced and a year later suffered a third knee ligament injury and the Rossoneri decided against retaining the three time World Player of the Year.

A man who made a similar journey, although having a thoroughly more unsuccessful spell at the Bernabeu, Kaka was back at Milan on deadline day last summer in what mainly looked a publicity stunt. While many viewed his solitary season back at the San Siro a failure they ignore the wider issues around the club’s failings, and he certainly displayed flashes of that old magic even at 31-years-old.

Pato - AC MilanThe major difference between Pato and many of these unfortunate cases is age. Still just 24-years-old, you forget that he joined Milan so young and regarded a spent force still relatively early into his career. Whilst this remains a positive considering Corinthians want just €15m, and his personal terms are around €3m-a-year, it provide issues for clubs like Sampdoria to take a risk on him.

When he arrived in Italy at 17, his first campaign yielded nine league goals in 18 appearances and continued his clinical strike rate right up until the end of the 2010-11 season when hamstring and thigh injuries, not unusual for someone used to using their explosive speed to devastating effect, began taking their toll and in January 2012 was nearly shipped out to Paris Saint-Germain only to reject the move.

That just prolonged his departure and a year later moved to Corinthians for €15m. His performances after his return were widely criticized in Brazil as he missed a host of vital chances, yet still netting 18 times in 59 games. But, after missing the penalty that led to their elimination from the Brazil cup in October 2013, he joined Sao Paulo on-loan.

While The Duck has indicated a desire to return to Europe, this summer has presented another incentive to succeed other than simply proving the Serie A doubters’ wrong. Watching the inept performances of Fred and Jo heading the Brazilian attack at the World Cup he has the ideal opportunity to stake a claim for 2018 and the Copa America in 12 months’ time.

Whether it is at the Luigi Ferraris or higher up the Italian food chain, even if injuries have denied Pato the explosive pace witnessed on his arrival back in 2007 his clinical finishing is certainly something he can rediscover to torment many a Serie A defence.

If so, there is more than enough reason to believe that sometimes things are worth going back for.

Follow Kevin Pogorzelski on Twitter: @rabbitrabbiton

 

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