AC Milan have signed Brazilian boy wonder Alexandre Pato from Porto Alegre club Internacional for 22 million euros.
The 17-year-old striker, who is expected to arrive in Milan on Saturday, scored three goals in four matches for Brazil at the recent Under-20 World Cup in Canada.
He became the youngest person ever to play in a FIFA event last December when he participated in the Club World Cup in Japan. He took that honour from Brazilian soccer legend Pelé.
Pato, whose real name is Alexandre Rodrigues da Silva, became Milan's top transfer target after Barcelona made it clear Ronaldinho and Cameroon striker Samuel Eto'o were not for sale.
The European champions had to fend off competition from Real Madrid, Chelsea and cross-town rivals Inter to get him.
But he will not be able to play competitive matches for his new team until January, because of complications linked to his age. The Brazilian turns 18 on September 2, two days after the summer transfer market closes.
Coach Carlo Ancelotti expressed satisfaction, but played down comparisons with Milan's Brazil playmaker Kaka.
"He is a great talent. He has quality, but he should be seen as a prospect for the future," Ancelotti said Friday in Moscow, where Milan are taking part in a pre-season tournament with PSV Eindhoven, Real Madrid and Lokomotiv Moscow.
"His story is different to Kaka's because Kaka was an accomplished player when he arrived and he was older.
"Pato is a good, young lad. We must give him time to grow and mature".
Kaka was 21 when he joined Milan from Sao Paulo in 2003 and had already made his debut with the full Brazil national team.
Pato is the seven-time European champions' only major signing of the closed season so far.
Although he is just 17 he is well-developed both technically and physically - he is 1.80 metres tall and weighs 71 kilos.
He was among the scorers last December when Internacional won the Club World Cup in Japan.
Milan's big Brazilian contingent, which features Kaka, Ronaldo, goalkeeper Dida, and defenders Cafu and Serginho plus Kaka's younger brother Digao, will help the newcomer settle at the San Siro.
Pato is Brazilian for duck and he was given this as a nickname because of his home town Pato Branco, which means white duck.
