Silvio Berlusconi Piles the Anvils on Pato’s Back

By: Martha | December 17th, 2007

You may have heard of a young Brazilian footballer named Pato. 18 years old, bright young hope of AC Milan, weight of the world on his shoulders — does that ring any bells? Well the pressure just got worse: Despite the fact that he’s done little but train since summer and, in his one semi-competitive match since then (for the Brazilian Olympic team) reportedly did absolutely nothing, Milan president Silvio Berlusconi told the press today that, according to coach Carlo Ancelotti, “if [Pato] continues to do what he does in training he will get 30 goals by June.” Gulp.

Just so we’re clear, only one person has scored more than 30 goals in a Serie A season in the last 50 years, and that’s Luca Toni, who scored 31 for Fiorentina in the 2005-2006 season. Now, granted, Milan will have Coppa Italia and Champions League matches to play in the second half, as well, but by my math, playing in every match, he’d need to score in pretty much everyone if he’d not going to make a liar of his owner and coach. (And, remember, he’s playing on a team that has yet to score a single league goal at home all season.) Erm, yeah. Good luck with that, Duck.

Even if the kid steps on the pitch and turns out to be Pele 2.0, he’s still going to be a failure based on the expectations his club are setting up for him. Man am I happy I’m not a footballing prodigy.

The Offside Blogging Team can also be found at these Offside blogs:
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Category: Europe, Serie A, South America, World Football

Tags: AC Milan, Berlusconi, brazil, Europe, Pato, Serie A, South America, World Football

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Comments  

• Big Lu |  December 17th, 2007 at 9:24 am

  
  
  

  Not quite sure how the young kid will do in the Serie A. Though league to play in, I really don’t think he will even come close to the predictions. We will have to wait and see.

  Posted from United States

  

• combat chuck |  December 17th, 2007 at 9:27 am

  
  
  

  Sounds like Milan needs to sell some Pato jerseys.

  Posted from United States

  

• Fernando |  December 17th, 2007 at 11:18 am

  
  
  

  Hello,
  reading the article, it seems you are blaming Pato for the pressure they put on him. Feels like you are jealous or something. Maybe it really feels bad to have to swallow 10 - 20 new third world prodigies coming up every year and taking places in the richest (not best) teams in the world.
  go PATO!

  Posted from Brazil

  

• Martha |  December 17th, 2007 at 11:35 am

  
  
  

  Actually, Fernando, I feel nothing but sorry for the kid, he’s being a put in a terrible position. Where do you see the blame?

  Posted from United States

  

• Lisa |  December 18th, 2007 at 12:58 am

  
  
  

  Fernando, you’re seeing something that’s not there. She’s showing sympathy for the poor kid being set an insanely high bar. Prodigy or not, scoring 30 goals in only half a season is damn nigh impossible.

  Posted from Italy

  

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