Alexandre Pato drops Premier League hint
AC Milan's Brazilian star Alexandre Pato has put Manchester United on alert by hinting he could be tempted by a move to the Premier League.
The 22-year-old forward is comitted to the Rossoneri until 2014 and has also been linked with Chelsea, Barcelona and Real Madrid.
"I love English football. I have friends who play for Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United," said Pato.
"At the moment I have a real taste for playing in the UK, being in London with one month to go before the Olympics.
"My priority is to finish my contract in Milan. I have a lot to thank them for and my focus is to continue doing what I do, to bring joy to the fans in Milan and continue my contract until 2014.
"And then afterwards, who knows?"
Pato, 22, is preparing to feature in his second Olympic Games, aiming to deliver a gold medal having won bronze with Brazil in Beijing four years ago.
Brazil face Great Britain in a pre-Olympics friendly at the Riverside Stadium on July 20 - and Pato hopes that is the only time they cross paths in the coming weeks.
"I hope I will only meet them in the friendly because in the Olympics they will be a very difficult side to beat, especially at home," he said.
"This will be the third time London has hosted the Olympics and football is very important here and I think Great Britain will be going for the title.
"Football is very important in Brazil and of all the times we have played at the Olympics we have never won a gold medal.
"In Beijing we won the bronze, which wasn't what was expected of us. But for me, getting that medal stirred up great emotion.
"If that was the emotion in winning the bronze I don't know what it would be like to win gold."
Pato won the Serie title A alongside former United man David Beckham at Milan and recognises what the leadership qualities he would bring to the Great Britain squad, if selected by coach Stu! art Pear ce.
The Olympics is ostensibly an Under-23 tournament but each nation is allowed to field three over-age players.
The likes of Beckham, Ryan Giggs, Gareth Bale, Frank Lampard, Joe Cole and Craig Bellamy have all been tipped for Great Britain selection.
"David has a lot to give in terms of his professionalism, in training, his expertise and his experience," Pato said.
"As a passer, a shooter, a free-kick expert he is a great asset and we do have to be very careful with him in these positions.
"If he can play for Great Britain at the Olympics he will be a real asset."
Wayne Rooney not at his best at Euro 2012, says Roy Hodgson
Would you like to see Pato at United? Have your say.
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The 22-year-old forward is comitted to the Rossoneri until 2014 and has also been linked with Chelsea, Barcelona and Real Madrid.
"I love English football. I have friends who play for Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United," said Pato.
"At the moment I have a real taste for playing in the UK, being in London with one month to go before the Olympics.
"My priority is to finish my contract in Milan. I have a lot to thank them for and my focus is to continue doing what I do, to bring joy to the fans in Milan and continue my contract until 2014.
"And then afterwards, who knows?"
Pato, 22, is preparing to feature in his second Olympic Games, aiming to deliver a gold medal having won bronze with Brazil in Beijing four years ago.
Brazil face Great Britain in a pre-Olympics friendly at the Riverside Stadium on July 20 - and Pato hopes that is the only time they cross paths in the coming weeks.
"I hope I will only meet them in the friendly because in the Olympics they will be a very difficult side to beat, especially at home," he said.
"This will be the third time London has hosted the Olympics and football is very important here and I think Great Britain will be going for the title.
"Football is very important in Brazil and of all the times we have played at the Olympics we have never won a gold medal.
"In Beijing we won the bronze, which wasn't what was expected of us. But for me, getting that medal stirred up great emotion.
"If that was the emotion in winning the bronze I don't know what it would be like to win gold."
Pato won the Serie title A alongside former United man David Beckham at Milan and recognises what the leadership qualities he would bring to the Great Britain squad, if selected by coach Stu! art Pear ce.
The Olympics is ostensibly an Under-23 tournament but each nation is allowed to field three over-age players.
The likes of Beckham, Ryan Giggs, Gareth Bale, Frank Lampard, Joe Cole and Craig Bellamy have all been tipped for Great Britain selection.
"David has a lot to give in terms of his professionalism, in training, his expertise and his experience," Pato said.
"As a passer, a shooter, a free-kick expert he is a great asset and we do have to be very careful with him in these positions.
"If he can play for Great Britain at the Olympics he will be a real asset."
Wayne Rooney not at his best at Euro 2012, says Roy Hodgson
Would you like to see Pato at United? Have your say.
Tweet
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