Retired Brazilian striker Alexandre Pato is one of the names football fans always ask about, after some had expected him to explode in Europe following his transfer from Brazil's Internacional to Italy's Milan. However, after years, Pato is looking to write his name into football history, but this time from the boardroom with English club Northampton Town.
Pato was one of the most prominent rising talents in world football and shone at the Club World Cup with Brazil's Internacional, leading Milan to sign him in 2007 when he was only 18 years old.
Milan's promising boy... a talent halted by injuries
Pato did not stop at attracting attention with the Rossoneri squad; he was among Milan's stars despite his young age, scoring 63 goals in 150 matches and winning the league title in the 2010-2011 season, but injuries hindered his career.
At the same time, Pato was one of the anticipated talents for the Brazilian national team, wearing the Selecao shirt in 27 matches and scoring 10 goals, but his international career declined just as it did at the club level.
Pato left Milan in 2013 and had several stints with clubs: Chelsea, Corinthians, Villarreal, China's Tianjin, Orlando City, and finally his last stop in his home country with Sao Paulo.
Pato suffered numerous muscle injuries as well as serious knee injuries, undergoing surgery during the 2022-2023 season. He then tried to regain his former brilliance through Sao Paulo but played only 10 matches and scored two goals before being absent from the pitch since September 2023.
In 2025, Pato confirmed in press statements that he was thinking about the post-retirement phase. He spoke with Ronaldo Nazário and Kaká about how to transition to his next step, refusing to stay away from the world of football but deciding to view it from another angle: the executive seat.
Football from another angle in Pato's life
The Brazilian star participated in the "FIFA Players Executive Programme," an initiative launched to help players transition from their on-field careers to leadership roles in football.
In May 2025, Pato joined a group of former players and officials in program events in Brazil, which included visits to clubs and football institutions, workshops on club management and leadership, along with discussions with Brazilian football officials.
The goal of the program was not merely to learn about management, as FIFA clarified that the program aims to support players off the field and help them reach future leadership positions in football administration.
From the pitch to investment... Pato knocks on the doors of English football
In January 2026, Pato's name appeared among investors linked to Sports Alpha Capital (SAC), an investment group that entered negotiations to invest in English football. The beginning was with Colchester United, an English fourth-tier club, but negotiations ended without completing the deal in February 2026.
The group announced it would continue searching for other opportunities in English football, directing its efforts toward the English team Northampton Town, where Pato was part of the group targeting a majority stake in the club. The company obtained approval from the independent regulatory body for English football and the English Football League.
On September 30, 2026, the acquisition deal by "Sports Alpha Capital" for 70% of the shares of the company holding the largest stake in English club Northampton Town was completed, making Pato one of the investors in the group and a member of the club's board of directors.
The English club announced that the acquisition process left it debt-free. Pato, as one of the group's investors, became a member of Northampton's board of directors alongside representatives of the group, while João Xavier and Tim Chamberlain took on the roles of co-chairs of the club.
