Pato: AC Milan win the derby and winger will decide the match

Former AC Milan striker Alexandre Pato has faith in the Rossoneri to win the derby and Rafael Leao to be the key player that will decide the match.

AC Milan face Inter in today’s Derby della Madonnina. The Nerazzurri continue to lead Serie A with a four points advantage while the Rossoneri desperately need a win in order to get back in the race for the Scudetto. Otherwise, Pioli’s squad could complicate even their Champions League ambitions.

Hours before Milan derby, La Gazzetta dello Sport interviewed former AC Milan striker Alexandre Pato. The Rossoneri fan favorite now plays in MLS with Orlando City.

The 32-year-old Brazilian striker considers AC Milan favorites to win the big match and remembers his brace in the historic 2011 derby. “What a show. I told Abbiati you think about saving because I will take care of scoring. Rafael Leao will decide the derby this time“.

In the interview with Gazzetta, Pato does not hide his desire to return at AC Milan for a second spell. “I want to play for another four years, one day I will return to Milan“. At the end Pato sends a message to his former teammate Paolo Maldini, now technical director of the Red and Blacks: “I tell him to also look towards Orlando, where there is a young 32-year-old forward with high hopes.”

Alexandre Pato played for AC Milan for six seasons scoring 63 goals in 150 appearances. A quick, agile and creative forward with excellent technical ability and an eye for goal, Pato was considered to be one of the world’s most promising young footballing stars in his early years. However, numerous recurring injuries in the last two seasons affected his career preventing him from reaching his full potential.

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