São Paulo announces the return of Alexandre Pato: “Crowd that leads, I’m back”

The return of striker Alexandre Pato to São Paulo had been on the agenda among the fans since the athlete returned to CT da Barra Funda, in February 2023, to treat a knee injury at Reffis Plus. This Friday afternoon (26), speculation came to an end and Tricolor announced on their social networks the return of Pato, who arrives to start his third spell at the club.

A condition imposed by the club and well accepted by the fans was to add a productivity clause to the contract, which runs until December 31 of this year, with the possibility of renewal.

In a video published by the club, the striker states that he lived the best moments of his career in São Paulo. “If there’s anything I discovered in those two seasons, it’s that São Paulo is about feeling and our story wouldn’t end there”said Pato, who claimed to have created an identification with the club and with the fans since his first visit, in 2014.

_{São Paulo welcomes you to Pato. Photo: Reproduction/Twitter.}

The attacker also reveals that he never stopped following Tricolor, whether watching the games from a distance or at Morumbi. “Today I’m going back to the place where I feel at home, and if the three of tricolor and three-time champion represents so much for the fans, I can say that I’m very happy to be able to wear this shirt for the third time.”continued.

Pato also said that he always felt welcomed by São Paulo fans, creating a different kind of affection that is difficult to explain. “Everything I do for São Paulo is out of love. The São Paulo supporters motivate me. It’s like a family, with a true relationship.”he pointed out.

The athlete’s return was well received by most of the fans, but mainly by the other athletes in the squad. Pato published another video on his Instagram talking about his return and it was well received by the tricolor athletes, Jonathan Calleri and Nahuel Ferraresi.

“Welcome back to your home”, commented Calleri. In his two previous spells, Pato has played 136 games and scored 47 goals with the tricolor shirt. The fans joked with his return, saying that now São Paulo has a duck, a mouse and even a bull, as the players Alexandre, Wellington and Erison are nicknamed.

The striker is still not training with the squad and follows a schedule of individual activities. According to journalist André Hernan, the attacker will undergo fine adjustments, but his physical condition is good and can be related between seven and ten days.

Featured Photo: Alexandre Pato is announced by São Paulo. Playback/Twitter.