Milan striker Alexandre Pato may be bargaining chip in Carlos Tevez deal

 

Pato of AC Milan

Milan striker Alexandre Pato has hinted at a rift with manager Massimiliano Allegri that could see the Brazilian swap clubs with City rebel Carlos Tevez next month.

Milan head the queue to take Tevez off City’s hands and opened discussions during a two-hour meeting in London last week.

But the Blues are beginning to doubt whether the Italian giants have the financial clout to come anywhere close to their £25m asking price, while refusing to entertain the
possibility of a loan deal.

Juventus and Corinthians are still reported to be monitoring Tevez’s situation, but Paris Saint-Germain’s interest is thought to have cooled.

Pato, meanwhile, has thrown his future into doubt by having a dig at Allegri, opening up the possibility that the 22-year-old could be used as a makeweight to help Milan meet City’s valuation.

In the summer, Roberto Mancini insisted he needed four strikers to mount challenges at home and abroad.

Tevez’s unauthorised trip to Argentina has left him with three – Mario Balotelli, Sergio Aguero and Edin Dzeko – and Pato, who has fallen behind Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Robinho in the pecking order at the San Siro, would bolster his attacking options as City challenge on four fronts in the second half of the season.

“I would like to have a more direct relationship with Allegri,” said Pato. “If he thinks it is right to criticise me, then I have to keep my head down and work. I have to respect what the coach says.

“But the fact remains that if he has seen something wrong with my game then he should come to me directly so we can discuss it.”