Corinthians forward Alexandre Pato. (Photo : Getty Images)
Brazilian footballer Alexandre Pato reportedly turned down a lucrative three-year offer worth €13.5 million annually from China League One club Tianjin Quanjian FC as the forward is rumored to be keen on moving to England to play for Jürgen Klopp's Liverpool FC.
The 26-year-old goal scorer, who is currently in contract with Sport Club Corinthians Paulista, is considered as one of the top scoring prospects in the Brazilian Serie A these days.
He began his career in 2006 with another Brazilian club Internacional before moving to Italy to play for AC Milan from 2007 to 2012. He was back in Brazil for Corinthians in 2013 following a €15 million transfer and is now on loan to Sao Paulo.
Pato appeared in 334 games throughout his nine-year career, scoring 130 goals in all competitions.
Corinthians president Roberto de Andrade verified the reports about the Tianjin offer. Andrade was actually in disbelief about Pato not accepting the offer, saying that "the offer he had to go to China is a deal I've never seen. If they came to buy an industry in here in Brazil it would not be with an offer so big," via ESPN.
"He didn't see himself in a country like China. The decision to stay or leave is not in the club's hands," Andrade said.
Meanwhile, SkySports reported that Klopp denied rumors linking Pato to a move to Anfield this midseason.
"My private advice to you is don't follow the Pato path any longer," the 48-year-old German coach told reporters after inquiring about the reliability of the speculations.
Several reports have emerged that Pato is on track to move to Liverpool for €14.7 million (£11 million), but Klopp's recent comments immediately doused all rumors about it.
