RIO DE JANEIRO, Feb. 19 (Xinhua) -- At least three Brazilian Serie A clubs are in the running to sign Tianjin Tianhai striker Alexandre Pato, according to press reports in the South American country.
Pato is contracted with Tianjin Tianhai until December but could leave earlier pending the outcome of talks between the Chinese Super League club's officials and the forward's agent, Globo Esporte reported.
Santos, Palmeiras and Pato's former club Sao Paulo have all expressed interest in signing the former AC Milan star, according to the report.
Pato has scored 34 goals in 58 matches across all competitions for Tianjin Tianhai since joining the club from Spain's Villarreal in January 2017.
The 29-year-old was once considered among the most promising strikers in the game, scoring 57 goals in his first 125 matches for AC Milan from 2008 to 2011.
But he was struck down by injuries and inconsistent form, managing only moderate success during subsequent spells at Corinthians, Sao Paulo, Chelsea and Villarreal.
The past two years with Tianjin Tianhai have been Pato's most productive since his time at the San Siro.
