Before Christmas, AC Milan Vice-President Adriano Galliani confirmed that both Robinho and Alexandre Pato have handed in transfer requests.
Yesterday, Milan President Silvio Berlusconi said that he hoped to “lose only one” out of Alexandre Pato and Robinho, but he also went on to reveal that he had turned down a €40m offer for Pato.
Pato is in advanced negotiations with Corinthians for a €15m move, while Robinho is at the centre of an €8m bidding war between Santos, Flamengo and Fluminense.
“I hope we’ll lose only one,” President Berlusconi told Radio Lombardia on Tuesday.
“I above all have regrets over losing Pato, because up until he suffered so many injuries he was our beacon of hope for the future and a real champion.
“There were some very important offers for him, including Arabian and Russian ones worth €40m.
“Now the time has come to rebuild and we’ll take at least three years, but then will return to being protagonists.”
They days of forty million euro bids for Pato are long gone. Injuries have robbed him of that pace that terrorized defenders and if Milan can get even €15m for the Brazilian today, they would have to consider that a good piece of business.
But why would Corinthians pay that kind of money for an often-injured striker? One reason is that tt is a widely held view in the Brazilian game that the physiotherapists, sports doctors, physiologists and physical preparation staff of Corinthians are amongst the best in the business.
Alexandre Pato’s AC Milan Record
- 2007-08: 20 appearances, nine goals
- 2008-09: 42 appearances, 18 goals
- 2009-10: 33 appearances, 15 goals
- 2010-11: 34 appearances, 17 goals
- 2011-12: 18 appearances, 4 goals
- 2012-13: Seven appearances, two goals