Alexandre Pato is now a free agent searching for a new team. Should Newcastle United express interest?
Alexandre Pato is officially a free agent after terminating his contract with Chinese outfit Tianjin Quanjian earlier this week. The Brazilian midfielder has made it clear that he will not return to Brazil after departing China and he has not indicated where he wishes to continue his career.
The 29-year-old has supposedly sparked interest from multiple clubs in Major League Soccer, but Pato has a few more good years left in him before he follows the footsteps of David Villa, Andrea Pirlo, Wayne Rooney and Zlatan Ibrahimovic in the United States.
That being said, should Newcastle United express interest in Pato before too many clubs start throwing their hats in the race? He would be an intriguing signing for the Magpies, but the key question is if he would have a meaningful impact on the team.
Alexandre Pato: Yes or No?
Personally, I am on the fence in regard to signing Pato. The part of me that wants to say yes sees how talented he is and his track record, especially from his time in Italy and Brazil, is impressive. The part of me that wants to say no has me questioning his commitment to clubs and his passion for the game.
Pato was a Brazilian star when he played for AC Milan and his goal against Barcelona in the Champions League is still popular to this day, but any player who leaves top quality football in Europe and Brazil for money in China is someone who raises red flags.
A few years ago, I would have said that Pato would be a stellar signing for Newcastle, but I cannot say that now. The Toon do need some quality midfielders to orchestrate the attack, but Pato would simply be a temporary solution to the potential departures of Isaac Hayden, Mohamed Diame and Jonjo Shelvey.
The key reason for this article is that other media outlets might begin to suggest some mid-table Premier League clubs as potential landing spots for Pato over the next few days or weeks, but Newcastle should pass on this opportunity. Steve Nickson and the scouting team have done well to scope out good talent. There are plenty of players who could contribute to the team more than Pato could.