MILAN - Alexandre Pato could return to AC Milan in a year's time.

Milan president Silvio Berlusconi says that's what the Brazil striker promised when he ended his injury-plagued stay with the Rossoneri last week and returned home to sign with Corinthians.

Berlusconi told a local TV station late Monday that "the agreement is he goes there, stays a year, a year and a half, then returns to Milan. That's what he said when he hugged me the last time we saw each other."

Pato is dating Berlusconi's daughter, Barbara, who is a member of Milan's management.

Berlusconi added that would not sign troubled Manchester City forward Mario Balotelli, saying that "if you put a bad apple in the changing room it can infect everyone."

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