Alexandre Pato profile: 10 things you need to know about the Brazilian wunderkind

The 19-year-old Brazilian, who has already broken two records set by Pele, is one of the most precocious footballing talents on the planet - and new Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti, who brought him to Europe under two years ago is one of his biggest fans.

The former Rossoneri manager, who has made Pato top of his Blues wish list, said of the wunderkind: "He has an incredible shot and great speed. In fact, he is twice as fast as a normal athlete."

Here are 10 things you should know about the forward who could soon call Stamford Bridge his new work place.

1) Alexandre Rodrigues da Silva came in to this world on September 2, 1989 and was born in a place called Pato Branco, in Parana. The youngster became better known as Alexandre "Pato" because of his place of birth - which, in English, translates as "duck".

2) Pato first came to prominence as a footballer when only three - the age he began to play indoor fusbal in his hometown. Before long his staggering ability and eye for goal became the stuff of legend throughout the region of Parana. Only just in double figures Pato travelled to Porto Alegre, to try out for Gremio, the team he supported as a younster.

3) However Gremio, the former club of Ronaldinho, turned Pato away - but local rivals Internacional convinced him to play for them. Despite the two clubs being bitter enemies Pato's parents convinced their youngster to switch his allegiance.

4) But then tragedy struck and threatened to derail his budding career. In 2000, while still only 11, doctors diagnosed Pato as having a potentially malignant tumor in his arm, after he had broken it. His family could not afford to remove the tumor - and the medics determined it would turn cancerous in two months. To save him a family friend - a wealthy doctor - operated for free.

5) Six years later Pato netted for Internacional FIFA's World Club Cup, and - aged only 17 years and 102 days - the pacy forward broke Pele's record by 137 days to become the youngest ever goalscorer in an official FIFA competition.

6) His performances in the red of Internacional and in the yellow and green of the Brazil age-group teams (in particular helping his country to the 2007 South American Youth Championship), caused the giants of Europe to covet his signature. Ancelotti's AC Milan won the race in August 2007, and shelled out the minimum release clause in his contract - a staggering €22 million (£19.6 million).

This is what they had been impressed with (look out for the three-touch cusion on his right shoulder - simply brilliant):

7) Milan confirmed they had signed Pato in August 2007, but because of Serie A regulations the Brazilian was, as a non EU player, forbidden to play official matches for Milan until January 2008, when the Italian transfer window reopened. He began training with the Rossoneri first team the day after his 18th birthday and scored on his non-competitive debut (as he was allowed to play in friendlies) in a 2-2 draw against Dynamo Kiev in September 2007.

8) On his full competitive debut he also scored, proving it was no fluke. On January 13 he started for Milan up front alongside his countryman Ronaldo against Napoli at the San Siro. He had a couple of chances but his shots were well kept out before, with the score at 4-2 to the home side, he latched on to a through ball and calmly side-footed a volley to end the game's scoring. In his first season in Italy he netted nine goals in only 20 games.

Below is a film of his impressive debut:

9) This last season Pato became a regular piece of the Milanese attack and scored twice in Milan's 5-1 win over Udinese just before the Christmas break, and managed to sparkle again with a brace against AS Roma in January in the intimidating Stadio Olimpico. He netted 15 times in 36 games for Milan in 2008-09.

10) Pato - who has a on-off relationship with Brazilian actress and model Sthefany Brito, two years his senior - scored on his international debut against Sweden at Arsenal's Emirates Stadium in March last year. In the process he eclipsed Pele's record of scoring a goal within seconds of his first Brazil start.

And here is that goal:

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