Alexandre Pato turns down chance to join Lazio

Lazio president Igli Tare has said that the Italian side have missed out on the chance to sign Corinthians striker Alexandre Pato.

Pato was thought to be available after a failed loan spell with Chelsea, but Tare has claimed that he has been told that the 26-year-old will remain in Brazil for the remainder of the year.

Tare is quoted by Globoesporte as saying: "I spoke with Pato and he said that he wanted to stay at Corinthians until December for personal reasons. Right now he doesn't want to leave Brazil."

Pato was thought to be a target for Marcelo Bielsa, who accepted the managerial role at Lazio before resigning two days later.