Alexandre Pato

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Personal information
Alexandre Pato
Full name	Alexandre Rodrigues da Silva
Date of birth	September 2, 1989 (age 17)
Place of birth	Pato Branco, Brazil
Height	179cm
Playing position	Striker
Club information
Current club	Internacional
Number	11
Youth clubs
2001-2005	Internacional
Senior clubs¹
Years	Club	App (Gls)*
2006	Internacional	3 (2)
¹ Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. * Appearances (Goals)

Alexandre Rodrigues da Silva (born September 2, 1989, in Pato Branco, Paraná), better known for his nickname Alexandre Pato is a Brazilian striker who has been playing for Internacional since 2002 . His nickname comes from the city where he was born, called Pato Branco.

[edit] Early Life

Alexandre started playing indoor soccer (futsal) in his hometown at the age of 3. Soon his ability became known all around the south Brazilian state of Paraná and after being praised by many of his managers, the teenager went to Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, to try out for Sport Club Internacional. In 2002, at the age of 13, he moved there and started sharing housing with 83 other teenagers that, much like him, wanted to make a name for themselves in the Inter first team.

[edit] Career

After a contract settlement that boosted the player's salary from R$3,000 to R$25,000 and extended his stay on the team until 2009 with a contract fee of 18 million euros in case a foreign club wants to sign him, Alexandre was finally considered ready to start a game in the Brazilian soccer league.

On his team debut, at the age of 17, Alexandre helped Internacional play an excellent game, a 4-1 win over Palmeiras on November 26, 2006. Alexandre had 3 assists and scored a goal. His appearance put all the spotlights on the young player and created expectations and comparisons with another southern Brazillian superstar, Ronaldinho Gaúcho.

The fans of Internacional now count on the young player to help the team win the 2006 FIFA Club World Cup. Pato scored Internacional's first goal of the competition on 13th December in the semi-final game against Al-Ahly Cairo, helping the team win 2-1 and a spot in the final. The player was taken off the field during the second half because of a cramp on his right leg and his substitute scored the second, and winning goal, of the game.

Before his team's match against Barcelona FC in the final of the competition, Barça's Brazilian star Ronaldinho identified Pato as a player to watch in Brazilian football. In the final against Barcelona, Pato failed to impress and was substituted before his teammate Adriano Gabiru scored the winner and ensured the title for Internacional.

He helped Brazil win the 2007 South American Youth Championship in Paraguay, which qualified the country for both the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Canada and the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. He was Brazil's leading scorer in the tournament five 5 goals.

He has been linked in this press with a move to several high profile clubs including AC Milan and Manchester United

[edit] External Links

SC Internacional - Current Squad
1 Clemer \| 2 Ceará \| 3 Índio \| 4 Rafael Santos \| 5 Monteiro \| 6 Hidalgo \| 7 Alex \| 8 Edinho \| 9 Fernandão \| 10 Iarley \| 11 Pato \| 12 Renan \| 13 Granja \| 14 Ediglê \| 15 Cardoso \| 16 Adriano \| 17 Wilson \| 19 Christian \| 20 Vargas \| 21 Michel \| 22 Boeck \| 23 Jean \| 24 Perdigão \| 25 Maycon \| Manager: Abel Braga