Rome - Young Brazil striker Alexandre Pato has said he is set on remaining at Serie A side AC Milan despite rumours of his likely transfer to Chelsea, Italian media reported Thursday. A move by the 19-year-old international to England has been mooted since coach Carlo Ancelotti left Milan for the London giants earlier this month and seemed keen on taking the striker along.
"I belong to Milan, my life is there, and who decides is the club," Pato said.
"I'm happy in this team. This year and a half for me was just great. Now I want to help Milan win the Champions League and the home league, too."
In 2008, Pato signed a five-year contract with the Devils, who pay him 2 million euros (2.8 million dollars) a year. He has scored 27 goals from 62 games.
Rumours of a possible departure of playmaker Andrea Pirlo were also dismissed by his agent, who said he was not worried by hints from club owner and Italy's Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.
"Pirlo is a player of Milan, who has a contract and we respect contracts. He is an important footballer who will stay at Milan," Pirlo's agent, Tullio Tinti, was quoted as saying.
Berlusconi said last week that Pirlo's sale was possible as it could help the club to balance its budget.
The club's books are believed to be in the black after the sale this month of Brazil star Kaka to Real Madrid for 64.5 million euros.
Veterans Andriy Shevchenko, Brazilian Emerson, Englishman David Beckham, the young Swiss Philippe Senderos and the recently-retired Paolo Maldini also left the club.
Further sales are believed to be necessary to undertake a renovation of the team's line-up, but Milan vice president Adriano Galliani on Thursday ruled out the sale of Pirlo.
"There have been no offers for Pirlo," Galliani said. "The fact that a player can go on sale or not arises when we inform a player about a proposal.
"We had a single massive offer for Pato from England, but I won't tell from which club. Anyway there weren't and there are no doubts. Pato will get his contract (expiring in 2012) extended and there will be no problem.
"We start over with him because I believe that there is no other player, aged under 20, who is this strong in the world.
