Corinthians director confirms Pato interest

25 Apr 2012 00:35:00

The Brasileirao champions want to help the player to overcome his persistent thigh injury as they remain on the lookout for a new striker following Adriano's exit

Corinthians director of football Duilio Alves has revealed that the club would be interested in signing AC Milan striker Alexandre Pato.

The Sao Paulo-based club are in the market for a new frontman after parting company with Adriano last month following the 30-year-old's excessive weight and off-the-field problems.

Diego Forlan was initially suggested as a strong possibility to bolster the teeam, but Corinthians are reported to be baulking at Inter's asking price for the Uruguayan.

The Brasileirao champions are now looking at alternatives and have identified the out-of-form Milan striker as a potential transfer.

Pato's niggling thigh injury has restricted him to just 18 competitive appearances this season, and Corinthians are willing to offer the club's training facilities for the striker to recover from his problem.

"I like that idea, but we have not spoken to him yet," Alves told Lancenet. "I have been following his situation through the press, he is a great player and he would be welcome here.

"Corinthians' doors are open for him to come here and recover.

"We want a world-class striker, we have to think this way because of the dimension of this club.

"We do not necessarily have to buy a player, it could be a loan signing. We thought about Forlan, and now we are looking at players from other European clubs.

"We also searched Brazil, but we could not find anyone who fits the bill. Playing at Corinthians is not easy."

Earlier in the week, Paris Saint-Germain coach Carlo Ancelotti confirmed that he is still interested in signing Pato, who joined Milan from Internacional in 2007 in a €22 million deal.