Are Chelsea missing a trick with Pato?

AC Milan striker Alexandre Pato has stated his intention to remain with the Rossoneri for the foreseeable future and insists that he will not be joining his former manager Carlo Ancelotti at Chelsea.

Have the Stamford Bridge outfit missed out on a great striking talent here?

Pato had this to say regarding his future:

“I have a contract with AC Milan until 2014 and I have every intention of respecting it.

“And in 10 years, I will return to Brazil to end my career at Internacional, the club which belongs to my heart.

“Pato progressed through the ranks at Internacional but only spent a year in the senior team before Milan snapped him up for 22million euros.” (The Daily Mail)

The Brazilian forward has been linked with a move to Chelsea ever since Ancelotti left the San Siro for west London, but the Blues have been fairly quiet over recent seasons regarding their transfers and list Jose Bosingwa and Yuri Zhirkov as their biggest signings over the past few seasons.

At 20-years-old Pato is one of the most talented young players in world football and many Chelsea fans were originally excited by a potential move for him when the rumours were strong last summer. However, now that the club are being linked with names such as Kaka, Fernando Torres and Sergio Aguero many have forgotten the diminutive Brazilian forward. It would appear that he was also forgotten at an international level along with team-mate Ronaldinho as neither featured for Dunga’s pragmatic Brazil side during the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

It would seem that the player’s future lies in Serie A, but I cannot help feel that perhaps Ancelotti should have pushed the club to acquire the young forward’s talent.

Pato certainly has a prolific record in front of goal scoring 41 goals in 87 for his current club Serie A, with 14 goals in 28 appearances during his time at Internacional in Brazil which gives him a career total of 55 goals in 115 first team appearances.

Some would argue that Pato would struggle in a physical Premier League and be knocked about quite easily by the defenders over here. It would also probably take a while to adapt his game as he is used to the pace and style of Serie A, but time is something he has on his side as he is so young. There are also many small skilful players who have managed to make an impact in the English top flight such as Gianfranco Zola, Cesc Fabregas and Luka Modric to name a few.

The 20-year-old could have been a more viable option than somebody like Torres, who Chelsea were linked to strongly before his injury in the World Cup final. The Blues already have a prolific centre-forward in Didier Drogba and I’m unsure whether or not the Spanish striker would complement the Ivorian’s talents. So, surely signing a supporting striker like Pato or Sergio Aguero would be a wiser move.

Do the fans think they have missed a trick by not signing Alexandre Pato, or do you agree with his critics who say he isn’t right for a physical Premier League?

Pato "The Duck":

[youtube XpBIbKmOOho]

Follow me on Twitter: ajwilliams1987

Get the latest Chelsea news on Twitter