I think it was the other way around, Kurt -- the webcam thing went public and then he came out with the 'i want to get married' interview.

I'm not particularly upset by the whole thing (though Fishdoll's eyes are still bleeding); Pato's a 19 year old and (no offense to anyone who may be 19) 19 year olds do stupid things sometimes.

At least if you're on drugs or are wasting away your talent, the only person you're hurting is yourself

I wouldn't dare, han. I don't want those penguins pushing me facedown on the ice!

I really was hoping nobody else here had seen/read the story and accompanying video. There IS a certain ick factor to it all even if it is a dumb action by a teenager. Meh.

Is it even sure that the webcam thing is even Pato??? I haven't seen it, but I remember reading about how it was a fake.

How can you possibly say something like that. have you ever had anyone near you who started to destroy him/herself with drugs? are you talking from experience? I don't believe so.

If I were given the choice of taking drugs or doing things like this, drugs everytime. Whats the point in basically intentionally hurting your girlfriend? He needs to grow up, fast.

You're essentially saying that you'd rather be a drug addict than engage in a one-off stupid decision like Pato?

a 19 year old made an error in judgement, God will decide his concequences. We can all be quick to judge but what if you were tossed in the high-life at that young an age, would you be tempted by life's easiest sins?

Yup..and I was meaning to say that there are 'certain' limits of decency in your personal life which if you cross fans have every right to complain about- Like Joey Barton. Like Steven Gerrard's punchup in the bar. Like Adriano's parties, and I'm sorry to say, Ronaldo's prostitutes. (Both Ronaldos!)

I don't think Pato is a bad person for what he did, everyones done things in the moment that they didn't consider the consiquences. I know that this is a fourm and everyone is intitled to there opinion but i think people should look at there own lives befor they scrutinize others. I enjoy talkin about players based on what they do on the pitch, but there personal lives shouldn't be any of our business. Only God can judge him. Hopefully he learned from his mistake and keeps his name outta the papers unless it for postivie things and keeps focused on football.

You're trying to make Fishdoll's eyes bleed again aren't you, Trini?

Calcio Debate: Alexandre Pato Stars At Milan, Sebastian Giovinco Rots At Juventus

Ahead of this weekend's big match between Milan and Juventus, Goal.com's Subhankar Mondal contrasts the fortunes of two of the brightest talents in Italian football….

AC Milan's Alexandre Pato is 19, Juventus's Sebastian Giovinco is 22. Pato is a striker, Giovinco is a playmaker. Pato is one of the best young strikers in Europe, Giovinco is one of the best young playmakers in Europe. Pato is the next big thing for Brazil while Giovinco is the heir apparent of Alessandro del Piero.

But while Pato has started 25 league matches for Milan this season, Giovinco has started only nine. While Pato has developed and matured to be arguably the best player for Milan on the pitch, Giovinco has developed to become the best player for Juventus on the bench.

Juventus versus Milan at the weekend should have been a showcase of two of the finest talents in Italian football. Instead it will probably show the contrasting fortunes of Pato and Giovinco.

Alexandre Pato

When Pato was signed by Milan from Internacional in August 2007 for €22 million, a few observers questioned the sanctity of the Duck's decision. He was only 17 and many his age who have been lured to Europe have failed miserably. Pato, though, would not be eligible to play for Milan until January 2008 due to Italian rules, and by that time he would turn 18.

Which turned out to be a boon rather than a bane for both the player and the club. Pato stayed in Milan and participated in friendly matches and learned the club's culture. Instead of being rushed onto the big stage, Pato gradually acclimatized himself to the Milan set-up and when he eventually made his Serie A debut against Napoli on January 13, 2008, he had already become well versed in the Italian style of football.

Pato ended the 2007-2008 season with nine goals in 20 matches in all competitions. His class and potential had been demonstrated to the Serie A followers and by the time the 2008-2009 campaign started, the Brazilian was Milan's first choice striker, and he was not even 19.

So far this season Pato has started 25 league matches, has made a further seven appearances from the bench and has scored 14 goals. But more than the numbers, it is the style that has been more prominent. Pato is not a 'wait in the box and then poke it in' or 'lump the ball towards me and I will nod it in' striker. He plays with a grace innate to Brazilians, and like all Brazilians has dribbling skills that would even make a stone tremble with emotions. He has ability on the ball as well as off it, and as his second goal against Roma showed in the New Year, he can run with the ball at his feet and can finish off a move with the elegance of a ballerina.

Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti has forecasted that Pato is going to be the best forward in the world and his progress so far merits this claim.

Sebastian Giovinco

The same cannot be said of Sebastian Giovinco, though. While Pato has been the beneficiary of an ageing Milan squad that took on-loan a finished Andriy Shevchenko in the summer and still relies on goalpoacher Filippo Inzaghi for salvation, Giovinco, in spite of his talent, has been largely neglected by Juventus coach Claudio Ranieri. The current Juve side still depends heavily upon the likes of Del Piero and Pavel Nedved, and it would be an understatement to say that Giovinco is needed.

For the non-Serie A followers, speaking in high terms of Giovinco would sound superfluous. But that he has talent and quality has long been established. Against Chelsea in the Champions League in Turin, it was Giovinco who looked the most likely player to break down the Chelsea defence when he came on as a sub.

The Atomic Ant has started just nine league matches in the league and has made nine substitute appearances, scoring twice. A versatile player, albeit physically fragile, Giovinco can play on the wings, as a playmaker and even as a makeshift striker, although he looks best as a playmaker.

Last season was Giovinco's first proper in the Italian top flight when he played for Empoli on loan, ending with six goals and four assists in 20 Serie A starts. This season, though, Juve coach Claudio Ranieri has for some bizarre reason persistently ignored him.

Not that Giovinco has played it all fair and square. During January there were rumours that the 22-year-old wanted a move out of Turin, his agent claiming that he needed more playing time. After the match against Lecce at the weekend, he barged down the tunnel in disgust, turning his back on Ranieri.

The Future

While Alexandre Pato's future looks bright, Giovinco's long term chances of making it really big seem dim if Ranieri stays at Juventus. The Brazilian will remain Milan's first choice forward next season and at 19 he can only improve; still only 22 Giovinco does have time to progress but the longer he rots on the bench, the more damage he will do to his long term prospects.

(Maybe you should have a contest to name him?)

I say Milan swoop in maybe get him to come back to the team he supported all those years ago?

About this whole Pato webcam incident; did Pato pull his Pato out?

About this whole Pato webcam incident; did Pato pull his Pato out?

You mean his Patinho?

He supported Milan?

He is good but his size is troubling.

STRONG DESIRE FOR GOALS

Alexandre Pato at Udine found the Bianconeri colors on his road once again. The last time at Siena they brought him luck, as the goal he scored there remains the last one he scored in Serie A.

MILANELLO - Alexandre Pato, from Siena to Udine. The last goal of the Brazilian was on 15 March when the Rossoneri beat the Tuscan Bianconeri 5-1. Now on the road of the Milan striker there is another team with black and white stripes, so who knows if those colors might bring him luck again:

"It's true, I haven't scored for a while - Alexandre told Milan Channel - essentially I should be scoring, but in any case I am happy with the work I'm doing at Milan and I always make myself available. The one against Udinese will be a difficult match, a match we absolutely have to win to be sure of going into the Champions League. We haven't played a bad league season and it would be a good thing to finish it well in these last three games."

The Champions League is the objective, but has Pato never thought it would be possible to win the Scudetto by overtaking Inter?

"Sure I thought about it, but to be honest in several games we lost points where we could have finished them off."

In the last few games played the Brazilian champion like any footballer hoped to be on the pitch from the first minute, but Carlo Ancelotti's choices have never compromised the relationship with Alexandre:

"The coach remains the coach, I like everything about him, he's a great. We must win our next games also for him, but also for all of those who are close to us. We have to be calm and do what we know how to do, as said our objective is the Champions League. Then it's clear that I always want to play, but what player doesn't?"

Finally a thought for Ronaldinho, a team mate and friend who has not found much space recently:

"The same goes for him, he would always like to play, but in any case I see him happy. He works hard and he's always ready when called upon to play."

Was Legrottaglie's foul on you against Juve a penalty?

"Yes, I saw the ball and Legrottaglie fouled me. I was sure it would be a penalty but it didn't go like that. Next time I have to be ready in the same situation, so at least this time they do give me the penalty!"

STRONG DESIRE FOR GOALS

5/14/2009 6:20:00 PM

Alexandre Pato at Udine found the Bianconeri colors on his road once again. The last time at Siena they brought him luck, as the goal he scored there remains the last one he scored in Serie A.

MILANELLO - Alexandre Pato, from Siena to Udine. The last goal of the Brazilian was on 15 March when the Rossoneri beat the Tuscan Bianconeri 5-1. Now on the road of the Milan striker there is another team with black and white stripes, so who knows if those colors might bring him luck again:

"It's true, I haven't scored for a while - Alexandre told Milan Channel - essentially I should be scoring, but in any case I am happy with the work I'm doing at Milan and I always make myself available. The one against Udinese will be a difficult match, a match we absolutely have to win to be sure of going into the Champions League. We haven't played a bad league season and it would be a good thing to finish it well in these last three games."

The Champions League is the objective, but has Pato never thought it would be possible to win the Scudetto by overtaking Inter?

"Sure I thought about it, but to be honest in several games we lost points where we could have finished them off."

In the last few games played the Brazilian champion like any footballer hoped to be on the pitch from the first minute, but Carlo Ancelotti's choices have never compromised the relationship with Alexandre:

"The coach remains the coach, I like everything about him, he's a great. We must win our next games also for him, but also for all of those who are close to us. We have to be calm and do what we know how to do, as said our objective is the Champions League. Then it's clear that I always want to play, but what player doesn't?"

Finally a thought for Ronaldinho, a team mate and friend who has not found much space recently:

"The same goes for him, he would always like to play, but in any case I see him happy. He works hard and he's always ready when called upon to play."

Was Legrottaglie's foul on you against Juve a penalty?

"Yes, I saw the ball and Legrottaglie fouled me. I was sure it would be a penalty but it didn't go like that. Next time I have to be ready in the same situation, so at least this time they do give me the penalty!"

^^^ Fishdoll is fast .

As for the critter name, Ro, you could open up a thread in off-topic and ask for suggestions?

Fishdoll suggests that Diavolino is a nice name.

Pato will really have to step up next season , I mean now with Kaka gone , the responsibility will be on Pato and at such a young age it will be very difficult for him ; carrying the team on his shoulders like Kaka did will be tough.

I'm really expecting a lot from this kid .