Former Chelsea and AC Milan striker Alexandre Pato ‘could make a shock return to England with Birmingham weighing up a swoop’ for the ex-Brazil international after Sao Paolo release
- Alexandre Pato reached an agreement with Sao Paulo to terminate his deal
- The former Chelsea and AC Milan forward has been without a club since August
- Birmingham City have managed just three Championship goals this season
- Pato is also reportedly of interest to Italian sides Genoa, Spezia and Monza
Birmingham City are lining up a move for striker Alexandre Pato, according to reports in Italy.
The 31-year-old has been without a club since reaching an agreement with Sao Paulo for the termination of his contract in August.
Now Italian outlet Calciomercato claim Aitor Karanka’s Birmingham are considering bringing the former Chelsea and AC Milan forward back to English football.
Birmingham City are reportedly lining up a move for former Brazil striker Alexandre Pato
Pato (right) has been without a club since terminating his Sao Paulo contract in August
However, the report adds that there is also interest in the former Brazil international from Italy, with top-flight sides Genoa and Spezia monitoring his situation as well as Serie B outfit Monza.
The Blues have only managed to find the net on three occasions from seven Championship games this season, and sit 17th in the table ahead of the visit of Huddersfield on Wednesday night.
Pato burst onto the world stage during a six-year-spell at Milan that ended in 2013, but it appeared he was slowly developing into one of the best players in the world.
He scored 63 goals in 150 appearances for Milan, helping the club to win the 2010/11 Serie A title as well as the 2011 Italian Super Cup
But reports now claim Aitor Karanka’s side are weighing up a move for the 31-year-old
Pato endured a terrible loan spell at Chelsea, appearing in just two top-flight games for them
But as has been the case with the San Siro side, the Brazilian’s form and reputation has since declined.
He failed to make an impact in the Premier League while briefly on loan at Chelsea where he only played two top-flight games in six months, and netted just a solitary goal from the penalty spot against Aston Villa in April 2016.
Pato’s most successful stint since his Milan days was in China, when he scored 36 goals in 60 games for Tianjin Tianhai, but two spells at Sao Paolo as well as time at Corinthians and Villarreal also failed to resurrect his career.
The 31-year-old represented Brazil for five years between 2008 and 2013, and scored 10 goals in 27 appearances.
Pato rose to prominence during a spell at AC Milan but has not replicated his form since