"Co on! Give more applause!""Fans on the left! Fans on the right!"
Pato was absolutely ecstatic.He was bouncing like crazy near the corner flag, still trying to get more cheers from the crowd even after most fans had already stopped clapping.
At first, AC Milan fans clapped out of respect for the youngster, but eventually, they just got tired of it.
It took Maldini to drag him back.If he'd been a few seconds later, the referee probably would've warned Pato for excessive celebration.
"Celebrated too long.Where'd you learn that kind of behavior?"Maldini scolded him — but then patted him on the head."Nice goal though!"
As Pato strutted back to the Milan half like a victorious rooster, Napoli's players watched him more warily.
Sure, he was a newcor —but he clearly wasn't just a rookie.
That goal had shown exactly what kind of threat he posed —great ball control under pressure and ice-cold finishing.
Another Milan prodigy to fear.First Kaká, then Suker.Now Pato?All of them were league-changing stars.
After his goal, Pato's desire to perform skyrocketed.
He wanted more touches, more goals — so he started dropping deep to get the ball.
But every ti he dropped back, he ended up sward by defenders — best case, fouled; worst case, he lost the ball.
After the third ti, Pirlo had had enough.
"Why are you dropping back?Get up front and wait!"
Pato snapped back to reality, a bit hurt.
He was just copying Suker, who often dropped deep to receive and organize play.
On the bench, Suker facepald.
This kid's trying to imitate ?
But Pato and Suker were completely different types of players.
Suker had the vision and passing ability to control the flow of the ga when he dropped back.He knew how to disrupt defenses, connect with teammates, and create chances.
Pato, though, was still a straight-line sprinter-type winger.Great in one-on-one situations, but not a playmaker.
So every ti Pato dropped back, it just led to turnovers.
Still, Suker had to admit:Anyone who could get "The Sleeping Pirlo" to yell at them must be sothing.
Back up front, Ronaldo helped reposition Pato, guiding him on how to stand and move tactically.
Napoli was now better adjusted defensively, especially after realizing how to deal with an explosive player like Pato.
Whenever he tried to dribble through, he'd be double-tead —no more clean chances.
The first half ticked by in this balanced rhythm.
Milan had a few chances, but failed to score.Napoli also wasted a golden opportunity.
The half ended 1–0, with Milan in the lead.
In the locker room:
"Well done,"Ancelotti praised Pato.A debut goal was already an excellent performance.
But he wasn't satisfied.
"Kaká, work with Pato more in the second half. You know what to do."
Kaká nodded —his passing had co a long way, from through balls to fancy rainbow passes.
"Suker — be ready."
Suker was the ultimate weapon.
If things got out of control, Ancelotti would unleash his Croatian nuclear missile.
But that wasn't necessary.
Milan continued to control the match.
In the 56th minute, after a dazzling series of plays, Kaká assisted Pato, who bagged his second goal.
"PATO!! Two goals in his debut match — what a performance!"comntator Aldo Serena shouted.
One goal was already rare for a debut —two goals? Almost unheard of.
But Pato wasn't done yet.
Riding on Kaká's fiery form, he kept demanding passes and firing shots at the Napoli goal.
"What's this awful conversion rate?"
On the bench, Suker clicked his tongue.
Pato had at least seven shots — and only two goals.
Sure, two were from distance, but two out of five from good chances?That wasn't impressive.
"If I'd been on the pitch, I'd have put five of those away."
Of course, the defense wouldn't have played the sa with Suker on the field.Unlike Pato, Suker always drew double coverage.
In the end, Suker didn't play at all.Pato played the full 90 minutes, and Milan won 4–1 over Napoli.
Pato scored two.Pirlo and substitute Simunic added one each.
A dominant win for Milan.
After the match, Milan exploded with dia hype about their new prodigy:
"18-Year-Old Brazilian Star Shines in Serie A Debut!""Alexandre Pato Scores Twice in First Ga!""Stunning Debut — Pato Becos a Star with One Match!"
The next day, Pato walked into the locker room with an armful of newspapers.
Thud!He tossed them onto the bench, squatted down, and began reading each one.
Every ti he found one praising him, he'd grin and chuckle.
Smack!A hand slapped his head.
"Suker, why'd you hit again?"
But when he looked up —it wasn't Suker. It was Kaká.
The usually gentle Kaká had smacked him?
"Suker said you were getting cocky and needed a wake-up call,"Kaká said seriously.
"I was just reading what the papers said about …"
"That is getting cocky," Kaká said.Then he picked up all the newspapers and took them away.
He knew too well:dia hype was a double-edged sword.It could easily inflate egos and derail careers.
He had seen too many players collapse after being overhyped and overpraised.
Kaká wasn't just doing this for Milan —he was doing it for the future of the Brazilian national team, too.
He didn't want a talent like Pato to burn out.
When Suker entered the locker room, Pato looked at him with bitter eyes.
"What's wrong with him?"Suker asked Kaká.
Kaká explained everything.
"Good job!"Suker scoffed."Two goals and he's already floating? What kind of ntality is that? What are you looking at? Scram!"
Under Suker's tyrannical aura, Pato could only sulk his way out.
His precious newspapers were gone.And even with Kaká's approval, Suker wasn't letting them be returned.
Thanks to his impressive debut, Pato earned more playti and tactical importance.
Ancelotti now wanted to pair Suker and Pato as the main striker duo.
He hoped they could develop chemistry and spark sothing new.
But it didn't work well.
Suker's presence in the front line was too dominating —he naturally drew the ball, leaving Pato little room to operate.
Even when Suker dropped deep to organize, Pato couldn't keep up with the tempo of his passing or transitions.
After just one training match, Pato was already feeling down.
"Suker's too overbearing. I can't get any chances."
Worse, Suker never passed him the ball —even when under pressure, Suker would just dribble and shoot himself.
Pato thought Suker was just being selfish.
But the worst part?
After the match, Suker only tossed him a line:
"Find the problem yourself." And walked away.
Pato was pissed.
"You're the one not passing — why should I be the one reflecting?"
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