AC Milan's Pato 'threatened' after penalty miss

Pato (L) misses a penalty shot during the Serie A match between AC Milan and Fiorentina at the San Siro stadium on Sunday. Angry AC Milan fans vented their frustration at the Italian giants’ 3-1 home defeat to Fiorentina by surrounding Pato’s car and threatening the Brazilian striker, a report said Tuesday.

MILAN - Angry AC Milan fans vented their frustration at the Italian giants’ 3-1 home defeat to Fiorentina by surrounding the car of Alexandre Pato and threatening the Brazilian striker, a report said Tuesday.

Pato recently returned to Milan’s first team following an injury lay-off and scored his first goal of the season in a 1-1 Champions League draw at home to Malaga on Tuesday.

But his penalty miss the Fiorentina defeat at the San Siro on Sunday was seen by some fans as a costly mistake.

According to Corriere dello Sport newspaper a group of angry Milan fans waiting for Pato to leave the stadium surrounded and banged on his car and launched verbal threats at the Brazilian.

Pato, who is in a relationship with Barbara Berlusconi, the daughter of current AC Milan owner Silvio Berlusconi, earned the penalty on the half hour as Fiorentina led 1-0 but sent his effort from the spot over the crossbar.

Pato (R) fights for the ball with Stefan Savic during the Serie A game between AC Milan and Fiorentina at the San Siro stadium on Sunday. According to Corriere dello Sport newspaper a group of angry Milan fans surrounded and banged on Pato’s car and launched verbal threats at the Brazilian.

La Viola went on to take a 2-0 lead and after Pato was substituted at half-time in favour of Giampaolo Pazzini the Italian reduced arrears only for Mounir El Hamdaoui to score a superb third goal for the visitors.

Victory could have propelled Milan up the Serie A table but instead the Rossoneri were left in 13th place, 17 points behind leaders Juventus.

AC Milan moved to quash the report, saying in a statement: “A.C. Milan categorically denies reports claiming Pato has been subject to aggressive behaviour and threats after the Milan-Fiorentina game.”

Milan’s worst start to the season in living memory comes two years after coach Massimiliano Allegri steered them to the title in his first year in charge and a runner-up place behind Juve last season.

Allegri said after the game: “I’m very disappointed because we had a chance to jump up the table into sixth place and start to put things in order.

“You can’t find yourself 2-0 down after the first half and we have to work on that. I don’t know how it would have ended had Pato scored the penalty.”

Allegri’s own position falls under the microscope several times a week, but on Monday the embattled coach was given crucial backing by Berlusconi.

A Milan statement on Monday said: “A long meeting was held yesterday evening (Sunday) with Adriano Galliani, Milan CEO, and President Berlusconi to discuss the future of the club.

“Massimiliano Allegri joined the two later for a detailed analysis of the current technical situation. Mr Berlusconi confirmed his complete faith in the coach…

“The aim remains to climb up the table with Allegri at the helm.”