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From Milan to the Classroom: Pato Begins Life at Harvard
Alexandre Pato, former Milan talent, will study at Harvard in 2025. After injury problems, he reflects on his career.
From Milan to the Classroom: Pato Begins Life at Harvard
Alexandre Pato, once hailed as one of the world's greatest striker talents, has taken a surprising turn in his career. After ending his football career in 2025, the Brazilian former professional is now devoting himself to an academic career. Pato is studying “Business of Entertainment, Media and Sports” at the elite Harvard University. This reports Laola1.
Pato's path was not always easy. At the start of his career at AC Milan, where he joined in 2007, he quickly gained high expectations. With the then stars Ronaldinho, Kaka, Seedorf, Beckham and Pirlo, he played in one of the strongest teams in the league. Despite his initial successes, such as being named Europe's U21 Player of the Year in 2009, injuries have continued to plague him since 2010. These health setbacks left him under constant pressure, which negatively affected his performance, as Pato describes in an emotional letter he recently published. In this he also discusses his serious injury and the tumor that was discovered, which required emergency surgery. His father couldn't afford the cost of the treatment, but a helpful doctor offered his services free of charge, which made Pato very grateful.
The dark side of fame
Pato often found media coverage of his career difficult. The pressure that came with his fame, as well as the high expectations of his fans, led him to feel lost in football. Questions like “What happened to Pato?” and “Why didn’t he ever win the Ballon d’Or?” followed him as he struggled with injuries and personal struggles. He said in interviews that the influence of Silvio Berlusconi, the then Milan owner, and his high expectations caused him additional problems. Pato felt like he was left alone in the press because he didn't have a PR advisor.
Studies such as those from the Liechtenstein High School in Vaduz provide additional insights into the effect of media on athletes. These shed light on the dependency between the media and athletes and show how journalistic pressure can lead to emotional stress and ultimately physical injuries. Athletes are often under pressure to always perform at their best, which exacerbates the situation because they also have to provide personal insights in order to help shape the image that is told about them, as in professional work documented.
A new phase of life
Despite the difficulties that accompanied him, Pato remains optimistic. He says that he is now 32 years old, happy and fit and still has the hope of taking part in a World Cup. In addition to his academic career at Harvard, he recently posted a video on Instagram in which he juggles with former Formula 1 star Sebastian Vettel, which gives him tailwind and joy in life. This new phase in his life symbolizes a new beginning in which he wants to use his experiences from professional football for future challenges and possible careers in the media and sports business.