Orlando City make formal offer for Alexandre Pato
The 31-year-old Brazilian striker is currently a free agent after ending his contract with São Paulo and the MLS side are interested in signing him.
The 2021 Major League Soccer season is set to start in April and Orlando City are making a late bid for Alexandre Pato, who is currently without a club after finalizing his contract with São Paulo on 21 August 2020. According to journalist César Luis Merlo, the MLS side have lodged a formal offer to sign the Brazilian striker.
After Sport Club Internacional won the 2006 FIFA Club World Cup, Pato emerged as one of Brazil’s most talented players after he broke Pele’s record for the youngest goalscorer at a FIFA event. At the time he was 17 and had been playing for the youth team since 2000.
Pato makes his name at Milan
After his breakout performance at the FIFA Club World Cup, AC Milan paid $25.40 million to take him to San Siro in 2007. Pato remained with the Serie A side for six seasons, making 150 appearances and scoring 63 goals in all competitions. After leaving Milan he struggled to find consistency and the Rossoneri sent him out on successive loans at São Paulo and Chelsea. In 2016 Villarreal brought Pato to Spain but he only remained for one season.
He went on to play for Tianjin Tianhai for two seasons and then ended up back at São Paulo for the 2019-2020 campaign. His contract ended in August and has been a free agent since, leading Orlando City to table an offer to join the club ahead of the 2021 MLS season.