The Latest on Pato and Giant Piles of Money

By: Martha | July 3rd, 2007

Patooooo! I told you last week — on the international holiday known as Maldiniteenth, to be precise — about AC Milan’s interest in new Brazilian god Pato (formerly known as Alexandre Rodrigues da Silva, but, at just 17, already famous enough for the one-name treatment), particularly if they fail to land any of the 14 Barca strikers they’re chasing. Now, though, it seems the worm has turned, and Milan are finding the boy’s price a little too rich for their blood. Said the suddenly wise Adriano Galliani, “he is young and I believe that certain amounts cannot be spent on a young player.” Wait. Is that a rare sign of fiscal responsibility from AC Milan? I’m sorry, my world view has been shaken to its very foundations, give me a second.

Ahem. Reassuringly, Inter have stepped up to reminds us that most football clubs are, in fact, completely insane, and like to treat money like it’s popcorn and can whipped up by just a few minutes in the microwave. Though the player’s release fee at his club is a mere €15 million, Inter are reportedly prepared to offer €25 million just, apparently, because they can. It’s the club version of waving its manly bits about, if you will, shouting: “COME ON, MILAN! THINK YOU CAN MATCH THIS? PLEASE. AND CHELSEA? YOU WITH YOUR LITTLE MOURINHO? DON’T MAKE ME LAUGH.”

Pato, meanwhile, says he doesn’t care which club he moves to, and is currently hanging out in Canada with Brazil’s U20 team, trying to make up for a humiliating loss to Poland in their opening game. He reportedly did very little in that first match, but not to worry — it was “only practice” to the child prodigy, who has assured the press he’ll score “at least” once in Brazil’s next match again Korea. Super. If nothing else, his ego’s ready for the big time.