European Football

Manchester City absentee Carlos Tevez might be joining the blue side of Milan after AC Milan striker Alexandre Pato today turned down a reported €35m move to Paris Saint-Germain.

Although Italian sports outlets were convinced that Tevez would join AC Milan in a €21m move this afternoon, paving the way for Pato to join PSG, the Brazilian has pledged his allegiance to Silvio Berlusconi's club.

Despite earlier telling Canal Plus that he believed Tevez was off to Milan, Inter president Massimo Moratti is now clear favourite to sign the fiery Argentinian.

"Milan is my home," said 22-year-old Pato in an official statement released through his club. "I did not want to interrupt my career with the Rossoneri after winning my first two trophies with this shirt.

"I want to contribute to the history of Milan and to the future success of this club with joy and in perfect harmony with everything around me.

"This joy will give me the energy to face the future matches with more enthusiasm and a greater desire to win and to score. Today is a special day for me. I thank president [Silvio] Berlusconi, the club and fans, who have always believed in me."

Although the statement calls to mind Kaka pledging similar loyalty to the club in January 2009 months before a then-world record move to Real Madrid, the difference here is Pato's girlfriend is club board member Barbara Berlusconi, daughter of the former Italian PM. There are even whispers this afternoon that Silvio himself may have personally blocked the move.

If you've been reading up on any Italian gossip magazines lately, you'll have also heard that Barbara is apparently pregnant with Pato's child, so it wouldn't make much sense for her to sanction his sale, even for €35m.

It is believed that AC Milan will cool their demand in Tevez after today, as they are already well catered for in the attacking department with Pato, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Robinho and an expected late-season return for Antonio Cassano.