Serie A side Lazio are interested in signing Chelsea forward Alexandre Pato, according to the player’s agent. Pato made just two appearances for Chelsea last season, scoring once and assisting once. He did not show his true capabilities, which prevented the North Londoners from making his move permanent. Pato was on loan from Brazilian side Corinthians, with whom he has been playing since 2013 and has made 30 appearances for the club.
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In the 2000’s, Pato was a household name in Italian football. Serie A giants AC Milan signed him in 2007 from Brazilian club Internacional. The forward played 117 games for the Rossoneri, scoring 51 goals.
He won the ‘Golden Boy’ award and the ‘Serie A Young Footballer of the Year’ award in 2009 for his splendid performances at club level. After a couple of good seasons with the club, he fell down the pecking order and failed to live up to his potential. Injuries and a loss of form saw him dropped from the 2010 World Cup squad.
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“Pato has offers from several clubs which we are analysing, and among these it is possible that Lazio is one of them," his agent Gilmar Veloz told Globoesporte.
Pato’s contract with Corinthians expires at the end of the year and the Biancocelesti can sign him for a lower price. His transfer fee has been valued at €5 million. Reports claim that Lazio president Claudio Lotito will hold talks with the player’s agent on Thursday to try and finalise the deal for the forward ahead of the arrival of the club’s new coach.
More to follow.......
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