AGIF

Striker who was one of football’s great talents returns to homeland

Originally posted on BenchWarmers | By Luka Foley | Last updated 5/27/23

Former prodigy Alexandre Pato has officially returned to Brazil after a spell in the MLS with Orlando City.

Pato has returned to Sao Paulo for a third spell after a season with Orlando City, having scored 47 times over his previous two spells with the Brazilian side.

The 33-year old was once one of the best youngsters in the sport, making his mark on the footballing stage with AC Milan from 2007 to 2013, scoring 63 times in 150 times for the Italians.

The Premier League welcomed Pato for a very brief spell when he joined Chelsea on loan, but following a goal on his debut against Aston Villa, he made just one more appearance for the Blues after that as he then headed to Villareal.

Pato: “O São Paulo tem algo diferente. Gosto muito do clube e das pessoas que trabalham aqui. Estou muito feliz. Devo algo ao São Paulo, clube que abriu as portas na minha primeira passagem, em 2014, e de novo neste momento. Espero corresponder a todo o carinho”.

“A torcida… pic.twitter.com/XbBbaiIeLC

— São Paulo FC (@SaoPauloFC) May 26, 2023

Injuries have unfortunately scuppered the striker throughout his career and 186 career goals is a total that could have been a lot higher had his fitness been kinder to him.

This article first appeared on BenchWarmers and was syndicated with permission.

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