AC Milan legend Pato attended an interview at the Trento Sports Festival organized by La Gazzetta dello Sport. This is the second part of that interview.

So, there's big news about you recently: you and a consortium you represent have acquired the English football club Northampton. As the new "club owner," how are you preparing yourself for this new role? Will you be personally involved in the club's management and project planning?

Well! First of all, to all AC Milan fans here, even if you support another team, you now have a chance to have a second team to support—Northampton. Everyone can start buying our jerseys!

Look at the big screen—that's you!

Ha, I look pretty handsome and stylish in that photo (laughs). But back to the main topic, we've indeed decided to invest in football. This is a project I've thoroughly researched over time—I spent three full years studying and visiting various places around the world to better understand modern football business and operations. I even took some specialized courses, and this knowledge gave me enough confidence and determination to take this step.

As I gradually stepped away from the peak of my playing career, I began thinking that if I wanted to do something in football, I'd want to be involved as an owner. I wasn't sure if I'd be suited to be a head coach or sporting director on the touchline; I prefer taking a macro view. Now, after three years of study and building networks within the industry, I finally had the opportunity to acquire this club. I'm very confident that through our efforts, one day we'll bring this team to the Champions League.

We truly wish you the best! Though the road is long and difficult, dreams will ultimately become reality...

Yes, the process certainly won't be easy, but we will definitely fight for it.

Wonderful! We look forward to you coming back and sharing the story of this new adventure with us!

Absolutely, it's going to be a very interesting story.

Agreed! You just mentioned you have a three-year-old son, which reminds me of your childhood. At age 11, you left your hometown and your parents to pursue your football dream at Internacional's youth academy. Now that you're a father yourself, what new feelings do you have when you reflect on the sacrifices and letting go your parents made so you could chase your dreams?

Yes, you're absolutely right. Now that I'm a father, looking at my own son, I feel a lot of emotion, even getting a bit teary-eyed... because it really wasn't easy. I fully understand everything my parents did back then, and the pain they endured to persevere. For example, I've only been away from home for five days this time, and I'm already eager to get back because I miss my little one so much.

I truly understand that feeling...

Yes, you have three children at home, so you understand this longing for your flesh and blood even more. When I left home, my parents also left me with my grandparents.

Yes, we also left our children with their grandparents back then, exactly the same situation as your family...

Exactly, so my parents now care for my son carefully. And the way grandparents care for their grandchildren is funny—all the rules you painstakingly built are completely turned upside down when the grandparents arrive, and they spoil the grandchildren excessively...

Grandparents are definitely "rule breakers"—they spoil children far too much!

Ha, yes. But then again, it's a very long life journey, and even to this day it's difficult to reflect on. Time can't be turned back, but that's life, and fortunately everything turned out well. I'm very grateful to my parents; they gave me boundless strength, allowing me to be who I am today. I often tell myself that I'm willing to do anything for them throughout my life, within my means, because they gave me something I might never have had the courage to pursue at that time—the courage to risk everything and chase my dreams.

Let's give the warmest applause for this extraordinary parental love! In your childhood, you not only had to face loneliness and homesickness, but you also suffered from a serious illness—an aneurysmal bone cyst, if we're being frank. Fortunately, a doctor named Paulo Roberto Mussi decided to perform the surgery for free. Perhaps he already saw the brilliance and spark of a future champion in you back then...

Yes, that's true. Unfortunately, I suffered from this illness when I was young. As you know, my family's financial situation was very difficult at the time, and my parents couldn't afford the high surgery costs. We also didn't have comprehensive health insurance. But the situation was critical; the doctor said that if surgery wasn't performed immediately within a month, my arm might not be salvageable and would have to be amputated.

Here, I also want to tell all parents in the world to take more videos and photos of your children, because when they grow up, these will be the most precious evidence. At that time, my father happened to have some video recordings of me playing football when I was younger. He brought these videos to Dr. Mussi, showed them to him, and said: "Doctor, please look. This is my son. He's very talented at football! Football is his life, and his dream is to become a professional player. We really don't have money right now, but if you could help us, please save our son..."

After listening, Dr. Mussi very generously said: "Don't worry, we'll arrange the surgery right away! You don't need to pay a single penny; I'll cover all the costs." That's Dr. Paulo Roberto Mussi—his kindness truly touched my heart.

That's truly a beautiful story, showing extraordinary and selfless human compassion, as well as the remarkable perseverance your father showed in saving you at that time...

Yes. What touched me most was that he brought hope to our entire family. After the surgery, my arm was heavily bandaged, but I still played football with the bandage on! Yes, I never stopped playing football for a single moment.

There's also a touching small story from my hometown, Pato Branco: Dr. Mussi lived in a beautiful apartment building in our city. When I was 12 years old, shortly after my surgery, my parents and I passed by that building, and I saw it and told my parents, "Father, Mother, when I grow up and have money, someday I'll definitely buy you an apartment in this building!"

Really?

Yes! Then, when I was 16 years old, after I signed my first professional player contract, was promoted to the senior team, and received my first salary, I went right away and bought them an apartment in that building! Now my parents and Dr. Mussi live in the same building, just across the hallway from each other, living face to face every day.

Diterjemahkan oleh AI.

Situs web AF kini hadir! Lihat berita lengkap, komentar, detail pertandingan, dan statistik di komputer Anda. Kunjungi: www.allfootballapp.com