Who is Alexandre Pato - and will he be at Sixfields this weekend?
The idea that a former Brazilian international who also played for Chelsea and AC Milan would be on the verge of becoming a part-owner of Northampton Town sounds like something from a fever dream.
But that is now very much a reality. It was confirmed on Friday morning that Sports Alpha Capital, a Brazilian consortium made up of several investors, including Alexandre Pato, have been given the green light to buy a majority stake in the club following a lengthy and detailed approval process involving both the EFL and Independent Football Regulator.
Who is Alexandre Pato?
Born Alexandre Rodrigues da Silva in Pato Branco, Brazil, in 1989, Pato started out with Internacional, joining their academy as a youngster before making his first-team debut at just 16. He earned the nickname ‘Pato’ (meaning ‘duck’) after his birth city.
He helped Internacional win the 2006 FIFA Club World Cup before his performances attracted the attention of clubs in Europe, with AC Milan signing him in 2007.
Pato quickly established himself at the San Siro, scoring 63 goals in 150 appearances and helping Milan win the Serie A title in 2011. He also won the Golden Boy award in 2009, having been regarded as one of the brightest young talents in world football.
However, his time in Italy was hampered by injuries and he returned to Brazil with Corinthians in 2013. He subsequently spent time on loan with São Paulo before a short spell at Chelsea in 2016, where he scored once in two Premier League appearances.
Pato later played for Villarreal, Chinese side Tianjin Tianhai, São Paulo and MLS club Orlando City before returning to São Paulo for a final spell in 2023. He also won 27 caps for Brazil, scoring 10 goals, and was part of the squad which won the 2009 Confederations Cup.
After stepping away from playing, Pato transitioned into media work as a sports commentator on SBT and also invested in Sports Alpha Capital. The group were initially in talks to buy Colchester United in early 2026 but those discussions broke down and they instead turned their interest to Sixfields.
Will he be at Sixfields this weekend?
It is believed that Pato will indeed attend Saturday’s League Two game between Northampton and Newport County. Listed as an ‘investor’ on SAC’s website, Pato flew to London on Friday morning and will be at Sixfields alongside several other people from the consortium. However, an on-pitch unveiling is not planned due to the fact the deal still needs to be formally completed and signed off. No timeframe has been given for this.