The agent of Brazilian whizkid Alexandre Pato has confirmed the interest of Chelsea in the Internacional de Porto Alegre striker.
Pato will star in the Under-20 World Cup next month - even though he is one of the youngest players in the competition at 17.
But Pato's agent Gilmar Veloz has revealed European Champions AC Milan and the Blues are already leading the race for his signature.
Veloz said: "There are possibilities and official interest that is not invented.
"The club know about everything. Internacional allowed a representative from Milan - Leonardo (scout) - to look at him.
"Chelsea also sent a person who was interested. But nothing is certain.
"Internacional have the federative rights to the player and they are taking care of it with us."
If Chelsea do strike a deal for the £18million-rated starlet, Veloz believes they may have to wait to get their man.
Pato would struggle to get a work permit and that could be a stumbling block in any move.
Veloz added: "Nothing will be done without the agreement of the club so the Internacional fans can be calm because Pato has contract with the club until 2009.
"But because he is not 18 yet, he cannot leave before January 2008."
