Former AC Milan Striker Alexandre Pato Holds Preliminary Talks Over Potential Colchester United Takeover
Colchester United have been approached by ex-AC Milan forward Alexandre Pato.
Charlie Rhodes
Updated on 26 January 2026
Continuing the trend of unlikely club owners, Alexandro Pato was present at English League Two club Colchester United at the weekend as he eyes up a takeover.
Alexandre Pato may have prematurely pulled the curtain down on an injury-plagued career, but he is determined to make his post-playing days a success.
That seemingly involves diving head first into club ownership, with surprise candidates Colchester United on his radar.
The 36-year-old was present during Colchester’s 2-1 victory at home against Fleetwood Town, and preliminary talks over a potential takeover are believed to have been held.
Alexandre Pato to Buy Colchester United?
Pato’s presence in the north east of Essex makes for a romantic storyline, with the former AC Milan striker still strong in the memories of many football fans.
The 27-cap Brazilian is part of a consortium that are interested in taking over Colchester, who have been attempting to find a suitable seller since last year
The League Two club were locked in negotiations with prospective US football owners group Lightwell Sports, headed by Tom Foley, but talks collapsed in the summer of 2025.
Current owner Robbie Cowley, who invited Pato into the stands as a guest in Colchester’s win at the weekend, has previously addressed rumours of a potential sale.
He said: “We’ve got some interested parties. We’re not interested in people unless they’ve got the wealth to take the club on much further than myself.
“There is no timescale, the line has to be that I hand it on to the right person – it’s a bit like you looking for someone to adopt your child, you’ve got to vet them.”
Alexandre Pato is the guy behind Brad in the photo BBC Essex posted on Saturday #ColU https://t.co/6IGV8rNuCp
— Daniel (@DanielColU) January 26, 2026
Why is Pato Interested in Colchester United?
Colchester United find themselves in a purple patch at the time of writing, with their chances of promotion to League One buoyed by positive form of late.
They find themselves just three points outside the play-off places as Pato oversaw their sixth straight unbeaten game, and with prospects of a return to the third tier for the first time since 2016, it may be the optimal time for prospective investors to take over.
While Pato will be remembered for his seemingly boundless potential as a young player in Italy, it is likely he made his personal fortune – believed to be in excess of €100m – during a two-year spell in China.
Pato was one of a wave of Brazilian and European players to be lured by sizeable wage packages in the Chinese Super League in the early 2010’s, and he is believed to have pocketed around £4.7 million per-season.
Charlie Rhodes
Charlie has built a deep portfolio across a wealth of sports websites, with a heavy focus on Europe's top five leagues. He has a long-standing interest in Serie A having grown up watching Football Italia on Channel 4 as a child. With extensive experience tailored towards news, long-form content and heavily researched features, Charlie has also garnered experience in several roles in the fintech and marketing sector.
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