Pato to Chelsea: Return to unfinished dreams

Joining the London club helps the 26-year-old Brazilian striker return to Europe, to continue pursuing his dream of reaching the top that he has yet to realize.

10 years ago atJapan, in the 2006 FIFA Club World Cup final between Barca and Internacional, there was a baby-faced kid in the starting lineup of South American champions Internacional. The 17-year-old dribbled past legendary centre-back Carles Puyol and forced Deco to foul him from behind.

The one who carries that confident demeanor is the “new Zico” of Brazilian football, the one who is predicted to inherit Kaka in the immortal legendary flow of a country that considers football as a way of life, that is Alexandro Pato. A name that will later create a unique picture of himself on the world football map. That picture has heroism, surprise, anger, frustration, hope and also regret.

At the age of 17, Pato surprised the world with his impressive debut against Barca. Photo: AFP.

"I am very happy to sign for Chelsea. This is a dream come true for me. I am looking forward to meeting and training with my new teammates and can't wait to get out on the pitch and contribute to the team," Pato said on his Chelsea debut on January 29. He spoke with a smile and his eyes shining with joy that was seeping through every cell in his body.

It was a feeling that seemed to have never appeared again in the capricious, complacent and lazy Pato of two years ago, when he was loaned out by Corinthians to Sao Paulo. But the transfer to Chelsea this time has awakened that in Pato. His face was filled with happiness when he put on the Chelsea scarf - the proof of the day he returned to Europe, to conquer and exploit the remaining potential of the fallen angel.

At the age of 20, Pato was already a mainstay of Milan's attack and shone in big matches. Photo: AP.

Nou Camp, September 14, 2011, just 24 seconds into the game, Pato sprinted from midfield, scoring a goal that startled the nearly 80,000 Culés in the Nou Camp stands. Pato was delighted with his arms outstretched, nodding as if it were obvious. Yes, it was obvious to a genius. Because Bernabeu had been scared by the “duck” two years earlier. Both Real Madrid and Barcelona had been punctured by Pato in their matches against Milan. Do you know what that means? Pato has the instinct of a big player in big matches - a quality usually reserved for future Ballon d'Or winners. Before Pato, the last person to silence both Real and Barca was Andriy Shevchenko.

Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani once said: "Pato has Champions League DNA in him", while Kaka gave a message: "Milan absolutely cannot sell Pato, because he will be the Ballon d'Or of the future." Pato accepted the compliments and pressure with the style of a winner. He scored on his debut, a feat only Van Basten could achieve, and added eight more goals in the second half of his first season with Milan. In the following two seasons, 2008-2009 and 2009-2010, the 19-year-old Pato became the man to carry Milan's attack during the waning years of the red and black empire.

Pato won on the pitch, but could not win against… his compatriots. The “alien” Ronaldo visited San Siro for more than one season, which was enough to “guide” Pato into the nightclubs. Ronaldinho arrived a year later and took his junior Pato’s partying ability to a new level. As a result, Pato was abandoned by his wife because he was too depraved. That’s how Brazilians are, geniuses who inspire life very instinctively. In 2008, Pato came to Vietnam with the Brazilian Olympic team, and Vietnamese fans were stunned by Pato’s handsome appearance. With blue eyes, curly hair, and a baby face. Pato captivated everyone. It was no surprise that he won the heart of the beautiful Barbara Berlusconi - his lover and boss in Milan. That love affair made Pato no longer mentioned much on the pitch.

Pato's tragedy comes not only from his lifestyle, but also from his injuries. Pato is a victim of the football industry that likes to "pick young rice" to compete and trade for profit. He, like Michael Owen or Theo Walcott, shined too early, causing them to suffer tackles from defenders while their bodies were not fully developed. And do you realize what the three names Owen, Walcott and Pato have in common? They are all players who have a knack for sprinting with defenders. Their speed brought them to the top, and then destroyed them with injuries. In January 2013, Pato was immersed in darkness and he decided to return to Brazil to save his career. That year, Pato was only 23 years old. He left, leaving behind an unfinished dream of conquering Europe since the age of 17 and a great regret not only for Milan's tifosi, but also for Brazilian fans.

Unable to let his unfinished dream end, Pato decided to return to Europe to re-affirm himself. Chelsea gave him that opportunity. Photo: AFP.

Pato had to leave everything behind to return to Brazil, but the European dream still ached in him. The way Pato stood up with goals and a healthy lifestyle at Sao Paulo Club helped his dream of returning to the old continent come true. Pato's happiness today has been exchanged for a full 10 years with many ups and downs. But that is just a dream that has just come true. What remains after the dream is what the fans care about.

Will Pato be like Falcao? It's different. A man who has been buried in such a deep abyss and still rises up, nothing can defeat their desire.

The MK Dons - Chelsea match, taking place at 11pm today, January 31, Hanoi time, will most likely be the starting point for his ambitious return journey.

According to VNE