Interviewed by Gianluca Gazzoli on his podcast BSMT, Alexandre Pato opened up about various topics, ranging from his time at Milan and San Siro to Rafael Leão. Below are all the statements from the former Rossoneri striker.
On returning to Milanello after 11 years:
"While I was heading there, I remembered every place. 'I used to pass here.' 'I used to go there.' I’d race my car with Emerson, ‘the Puma,’ the one who played for Roma. We’d compete to see who could get to Milanello first. Then Galliani called my agent, asking him to tell me to stop racing (laughs). I remembered everything. The streets, every part of Milanello. Then I met the lady who was already working there during my time, the one who used to tidy up the rooms. The chef, the people who work there. I told them, 'I feel like crying, but I can’t because there’s a camera watching me, and it’ll mock me.' But it was amazing. I was young; I grew up there. Everything I experience in Milan gives me chills."
On finding changes at Milanello, Pato commented:
"Yes, a few things have changed. Mostly in the locker room; there’s a bit more there. Also in the parking lot. A few differences, but for me, it’s still the same."
On meeting the new Milan players:
"I knew some of them only through Instagram. Then we got to know each other. I’ve known Morata for a long time because we talked when I was in China. He was supposed to come too, so we discussed it. They’re all new, but I knew Ruben (Loftus-Cheek) because we played together at Chelsea. The others were all new faces."
On the lack of Brazilian players at Milan:
"I only found Emerson (Royal) there. When I was at Milan, there were eight of us Brazilians. Now, there’s only one. Football is changing a lot."
On Rafael Leao:
"Leão is quite a character (laughs). When I arrived at his age, I was so young. These guys are all tall, massive. I’ve always admired him, and I cheer for him. He has all the potential to take Milan to the top. I’ll always support him, and I hope he scores many more goals for Milan and helps the team win."
On returning to San Siro:
"They let me walk onto the pitch. It makes you want to cry. Then the fans shout, ask for pictures. Having my parents beside me was special because they stayed with me for a month and then left. Returning with them after 12 years to San Siro was beautiful. Apart from the cold—they couldn’t feel their feet anymore—but it was wonderful."
Pato on wanting to play again:
"I’ll tell you something. I asked Kaká for advice: ‘Ricky, what did you do when you stopped playing?’ He told me, ‘This way, I’m at peace.’ Right now, sometimes I don’t want to be the guy who insists on returning to Milan at all costs, but I do feel the urge to put on the jersey, get on the pitch, and play again..."
On the possibility of returning to the field
"I need to get back in shape. The desire is there, we’ll see..."
On his first goal for Milan:
"I liked being a player. Stepping onto San Siro was incredible, and then scoring... I cried when I scored my first goal for Milan. It was against Napoli. I was scoring a goal but didn’t quite understand where I was. I cried because I had scored. I’ve always wanted to do what I learned."
On comparisons with great players
"When I came from Brazil, everyone said, ‘Here’s the new Ronaldo.’ My characteristics were a bit similar, but I was me. I understand that now, but back then, I was unaware."
On the nickname "Papero":
"I lived in Pato Branco. My nickname comes from there. Papero is a translation of ‘Pato.’ When I was younger, they called me Alexandre Paraná, after the region where I lived. But there was another, older player on my team named Alessandro Paraná. They told me I had to change my name since I was younger. I agreed, and they asked where I was from, so they called me ‘Pato.’ I like it; it stuck. Today, I even run a construction company in Brazil called 'Pato'. The name stayed."
On Milan’s call:
"When I was younger, I was occasionally with the Brazilian national team. Apart from Milan, other clubs were interested: Juventus, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Ajax, PSV, and Inter too. At the U20 World Cup in Canada, we were told before a match that Ancelotti was there watching. I thought, ‘Oh, okay.’ I wasn’t sure if it was true, but it motivated me. I did well in the World Cup, though we got eliminated quickly. Back in Brazil, Internacional’s first-team coach called me up for a match. I did great, and he insisted I stay. Then we went to play in the Club World Cup, won it (vs Barcelona 1-0), and I knew Milan was serious. I said that’s where I wanted to go. They had Ronaldo, Maldini, Nesta, Pirlo, Gattuso, Cafu, Kaká, Sheva, Pippo (Inzaghi). I told my agent, ‘I want to go there. I play FIFA, and I want to go there’ (laughs). I didn’t realize the significance. I just wanted to play with them. I didn’t understand what Milan was; I just wanted to go there."
On a moment with Shevchenko, Pato commented:
"Sheva arrived with the No. 7 jersey and told me, ‘This jersey is yours.’ I didn’t grasp its importance. It was amazing—the best choice at the right time."
On the first person he met at Milan
"It was Ariedo Braida, then the doctor (Galliani). I landed at the airport, spent two hours in Forte dei Marmi, then went to the hospital for medical exams, and finally to Milanello."
On Zlatan Ibrahimovic
"I met Ibra yesterday, and he hasn’t changed a bit. He’s the right man for Milan. He’s fantastic. He was someone who lifted the team with his slightly aggressive style. But he’s a very kind and friendly guy. He greeted my whole family when we visited Milanello. I understand his role today. He has a big heart but needs to play his part. I posted a photo with him on Instagram. He’s funny, always smiling, but he also has a serious side for his role. He’s very well-mannered and warm-hearted."
On the famous Zlatan Ibrahimovic - Oguchi Onyewu fight, Pato said:
"Remember the Colosseum? It felt like that. It was bad (laughs). Luckily, we were all there, or it could have been chaos. They’re both strong and big guys. Ibra does martial arts, and Onyewu is massive. It wasn’t easy. If you ask who was hitting whom, it was hard to tell. Onyewu grabbed Ibra, Ibra grabbed Onyewu. Fortunately, Gattuso and the others stepped in to break it up. It was quite a fight."
