Pato Begins Life As A Superstar By Saying Stupid Things

By: chris | January 8th, 2008

We all know Milan needs some help. Specifically some young(er)help, to bring down the average age of la rosa to a more manageable 47. And the help needs to start up at the top of that Christmas tree where only Pippo can seem to score, and unfortunately it’s not on the field. Didier Drogba and Jose Mourinho have taken up permanent residence in the Milanese rumor mills, where Ronaldinho is looking to renew his 6 month lease. But according to Silvio and Carletto, it’s The Chosen One, Ale Pato, who will take them back to the promised land with 30 goals in the spring. Well, Pato seems to agree that he is just that fricken’ awesome, and has guaranteed that he will not only play against Napoli, but score two goals in the process.

“On Sunday I will play and I will score,” Pato told Milan Channel.

“I will score a goal…actually I will score two goals.”

Honestly, I wanted to like Pato. Despite the whole Calciopoli thing, the Rossoneri are my Milanese team of choice. I haven’t bought into the ownership’s “family” thing, but the quiet class of legends and superstuds such as Maldini, Pirlo, Gattuso (alright, not so quiet), Ambrosini and Kaka makes the squad itself difficult to hate, at least for me. (I’ve managed to keep on truckin’ on with my hatred for all ex-Lazio captains, however.) So having them at the top of the heap is not only preferable when comparing them to their hypocritical, Holier Than Thou little sisters on the black & blue side of town, but good for the league, as well. The ownership sucks, but the team appears to be a bunch of good guys. No one wants to see good guys finish last. (Well, mostly.)

But now? Settle down, kid. Yes, his hype rivals that of The Rapture, which is understandable when you factor in that check Silvio whipped off for him (€22m), but what exactly has he done besides shine in Brazil, some tournaments and training (supposedly)? None of those can even begin to compare to Serie A, not mention Napoli, which has shown its ability to rise to the levels of the big fellas (which they’re a lot closer than many people thought, including myself); with a 3-1 hurtin’ on Juve (marred by some strange officiating, or karma, whichever you prefer), an 8 goal bonanza of a draw at the Stadio Olimpico against Roma, and a 5-0 thumping of Udinese. The three teams which may very likely join Inter in next year’s CL if Milan doesn’t get their act together.

If he’s supposed to be the next Kaka or Messi or Dinho, he appears to be missing one of the greatest characteristics which got those players where they are today: humility and respect. Talent can only get you halfway there. Realizing you have to work just as hard, if not harder, than everyone else over the long term to nourish and extract that talent is the other half. Not everything is going to come as easily against Napoli as it will in training.

No doubt, the kid’s a helluva talent, but I’m not sure he gets it. Maldini got it. Kaka got it. Pirlo got it. Gattuso got it. Ambrosini got it. I just hope that Maurizio Domizzi gives this kid a rude welcoming tackle, stands over him and says “welcome to the big leagues, kid”. Maybe then he’ll shut up and do his talking on the field.