Alexandre Pato: Manchester United were after me

Anthony Martial has taken the English game by storm notching four goals in four games for his new club. Manchester United boss Louis Van Gaal had said the 19 year old striker was a parting gift to potential next manager Ryan Giggs, not one to be thrown in right away but someone they can bring to the boil for years to come. 

However, like so much of football the pressure to win and for immediate success has reared its head yet again. Manchester United versus Liverpool, and with Christian Benteke pulling a goal back for Liverpool with six minutes to go the game was seemingly on a knife edge. Step forward this bright-eyed, bushy-tailed teen who was about to announce himself on the world stage. 

Martial picked up the ball on the left hand side and drove directly at the Liverpool back for, his endeavour saw him force his way passed the Liverpool defence and finish into the bottom right hand corner, something that is fast becoming his trade-mark.  

Nonetheless, the player in question and held aloft by the Manchester United fans may have been completely different if a certain Brazilian is correct.  

Sao Paulo striker Alexander Pato has come out and declared he was subject to, two bids on deadline day from the Manchester club before they wrapped up the world record fee for 19 year old Martial.  

He revealed; 

"I'm not going to lie, two hours before the deadline I had a really good offer from Manchester United. I was expecting it, but I actually only found out about it afterwards." 

Pato, who earlier this month called himself the best Brazilian striker as reports emerged Spurs were advancing, is currently on loan to Sao Paulo from Corinthians. The 26 year old has scored nine goals in 27 games in this seasons Paulista Championship and adding to that has got ten goals in the same number of appearances for Selecao. 

The striker is best known for his five years at AC Milan where he progressed as a teen and began racking up the goals, however Pato was always somewhat of a maverick and his enigmatic style lacked any consistency. With the player now approaching his best years on the pitch a move back to Europe and in particular the Premier League could prove the perfect tonic to re-ignite his promising career.