Italy welcomes its new star, Brasilian Alexandre Pato

[Mexxx]

Super Pato’s debut plaudits Monday 14 January, 2008

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Alexandre Pato was the star of the show in his Milan debut against Napoli last night and he won praise from Ronaldo and Partenopei boss Edy Reja.

All eyes were on the Brazilian teenager whose arrival has caused frenzied excitement amongst the Diavolo faithful and he didn’t disappoint.

Pato scored once and had a number of efforts saved during a sparkling performance in a 5-2 win at San Siro and impressed strike partner, and idol, Ronaldo.

“I would give him 10 out of 10 given the expectations and the pressure on him,” El Fenomeno told Sky Sport Italia.

“For an 18-year-old lad, dealing with a packed San Siro isn’t easy, but he was superb.”

Napoli Coach Reja was clearly disappointed with the result, but insisted that Pato’s masterful performance was a big factor in his team’s reverse.

“I thought he would show some of the naivety of youth, but instead he showed a great personality and maturity,” the Vesuviani tactician bemoaned.

“Obviously you can’t protect yourself when you run into a Milan side like that. I thought we would be able to keep in it for longer after the break and keep the result in the balance, but we gave them too many chances.”


The winners…
Alexandre Pato (Milan)
Never has an 18-year-old had to deal with such great expectations as Alexandre Pato has at Milan, but he responded like a true champion. The Duck had the Diavolo faithful purring and was the star of the show even before he opened his Rossoneri account with aplomb. Like Milan's supporters, Pato may have found it difficult to sleep last night...

The goals…
Alexandre Pato (Milan)
A star is born. With his first touch The Duck left Maurizio Domizzi stranded by flicking on a long Giuseppe Favalli ball over the top, with the second he side-footed coolly past Gennaro Iezzo.

[Mexxx]

More on the latest sensation in Serie A

Pato: My dream debut

Sunday 13 January, 2008
Serie A’s newest starlet Alexandre Pato admits his debut for Milan alongside hero Ronaldo was a dream come true.

“I dedicate the goal to my family and my girlfriend,” said the 18-year-old after netting in the 5-2 win over Napoli.

San Siro was packed out to see the Brazilian talent open his account in a trident attack with fellow Selecao stars Kaka and Ronaldo.

“The team played very well and it was an excellent game of football. Ronaldo remains the Fenomeno. I am just very happy to have scored.

“Ronie was always my hero growing up and it is a dream to play in the same team as him.”

President Silvio Berlusconi said that Pato will go on to score dozens of goals in the Milan jersey, but the teenager is keeping his feet on the ground.

“How many goals can I score? I’ll sleep on it and then I’ll tell you,” beamed ‘The Duck.’

[Mexxx]

Match report of the drubbing that Napoli received

This is the team Big SidEEE!!! will face consider this a RBoyz scouting report.

Alexandre Pato had a sensational Serie A debut with a goal, Ronaldo bagged a brace and Milan ended their taboo with a 5-2 demolition of Napoli.
The Stadio Meazza was packed out to see teenage sensation Pato's first game in a Rossoneri jersey. Although he joined from Internacional in the summer, he only turned 18 in September and so could not register his contract until the January transfer window opened.
As Pippo Inzaghi was out injured, Pato got his first start in a Brazilian 'Trio della Meraviglie' with Kaka and Ronaldo. Gennaro Gattuso, Manuele Blasi and Marcelo Zalayeta were suspended, but Napoli hoped for their first victory here since 1986. Milan were still without a home win in Serie A this season, picking up 13 of their 18 points on their travels.
Pato received cheers at every touch of the ball in the opening minutes, as the expectation around this teenager with braces on his teeth has been at fever pitch.
Kaka rolled out for Ronaldo to test Gennaro Iezzo at the near post, while Kaka then fired over the bar from the D. However, Ezequiel Lavezzi was causing problems at the other end with his pace.
Milan opened the scoring in chaotic circumstances. Ronaldo combined with Pato and Andrea Pirlo threaded through for Il Fenomeno. Iezzo got a foot to it, but the looping ball was cleared off the line by Cupi only after it had gone over. Pato tried to get his head to it, but was anticipated by Cupi and the goal goes to Ronaldo.
Play had to be halted for several minutes as there was a hole in the Napoli net, but when it resumed Iezzo beat away a Pato attempt and Ronaldo's header looped wide.
Kaka's shot was charged down, but Napoli equalised with a classic counter-attack from their own South American contingent. Lavezzi volleyed a cross into the centre for Roberto Sosa to tap in from six yards, an all-Argentine goal.
Milan restored their lead and Pato almost got his first goal, but was twice in quick succession denied by Iezzo's point-blank reaction saves. Even the goalkeeper could do nothing on Clarence Seedorf's follow-up under the bar, though.
Iezzo denied Pato again moments later, the young Brazilian's spectacular control and left-foot half-volley at the near post. Pato's spectacular flick over a defender created a chance that Ronaldo wasted with his second touch.
Lavezzi was the troublemaker again, though, as he was bundled over by a clumsy Kakha Kaladze for a penalty. Maurizio Domizzi took responsibility and got his spot-kick past Nelson Dida despite the goalkeeper guessing the right corner.
Pirlo was booked for an elbow on Sosa and will be suspended for Milan's next match. Giuseppe Favalli came on for Paolo Maldini, who was struggling with a fitness problem.
Just 29 seconds after the restart Milan went 3-2 up! Seedorf chipped in a cross from the left for Ronaldo's glancing header from seven yards. This was only his second official game of the season, the other being the 2-1 win away to Cagliari on November 25.
It remained an extremely entertaining match and Dida palmed a Garics snapshot over the bar from distance and Walter Gargano drilled wide.
Kaka scored an absolutely sensational goal on 68 minutes. Seedorf's backheel for Favalli was immediately touched on for the Brazilian, who turned and unleashed a rocket from 22 metres that whistled past Iezzo at the near post. Before this match, Milan had only ever scored a maximum of one goal per home game in Serie A this season with a grand total of three.
Ronaldo is not fully match fit and made way for Emerson, so Seedorf moved up with Kaka to support Pato.
It did the trick, as on 74 minutes Pato marked his Serie A debut with a wonderful goal to bring down San Siro. A long Favalli ball over the defence saw him take out a defender with a perfect first touch and sidefoot home with the inside of his right foot. Pato was so moved by the moment that he shed a tear.
Pato almost had a second - and Milan's sixth - as he got away between two defenders down the right flank and his powerful strike was beaten away at the near post, Emerson missing the follow-up. The Duck was fired up and curled just wide and then almost won a penalty as he slipped and got straight back up when rounding Cupi.
Pato was brought down for Gargano's second bookable offence, as Napoli became visibly frustrated

[Mexxx]

Pictures of the DUCK

Week 18: Enter The Duck

But all the talk centred around new boy Alexandre Pato who made an inspirational debut and opened his account with a cool finish