In an exclusive interview with CGTN, former AC Milan forward and Brazilian international Alexandre Pato said the Chinese Super League (CSL) has the potential to be among the top leagues in the world, and that he had made the move to China to help Chinese football fulfil its potential.

"I'm convinced that the Chinese league is growing," the Tianjin Quanjian star player told CGTN, noting that Chinese club owners have been making huge investments to boost the CSL's "consistent development."

"Due to that, the level of Chinese football has the potential to reach almost the same as we see in Europe, Brazil and other major football countries," Pato said. "I'm strongly convinced that I'm here to help with this mission."

This year, the Chinese Football Association announced a series of new policies to put restrictions on foreign players and facilitate the growth of domestic young players, such as limiting the number of foreign players permitted to play in the 2017 CSL season and requiring each club to start a match with at least one Chinese player under the age of 23. Meanwhile, clubs spending hugely to lure big names to China will be subjected to tax.

Commenting on these policies, Pato said the restrictions on foreign players would give young Chinese players more chances to play in the first team, thus improving Chinese football.

"These rules are meant to increase the level of Chinese football," he said, adding that he agrees with the new measures.

From his perspective, foreign players in China should respect the rules. "You need to understand China wants to grow and that's why we are here," he explained.

Pato also expressed his hopes of returning to the Brazilian national team.

Pato signed for Italian side AC Milan in 2007 and scored 18 goals in 42 matches in 2009, which earned him both the Golden Boy and Serie A Young Footballer of the Year awards. He helped Milan win the Serie A trophy in 2011. 

In the next few years, Pato, struggling to maintain top form, moved between a number of Brazilian and European clubs including Corinthians, Sao Paulo, Chelsea and Villarreal. 

Pato represented Brazil in two Olympic Games, winning bronze and silver medals, but has never featured in the final stages of a FIFA World Cup.

The 27-year-old joined newly promoted CSL side Tianjin Quanjian five months ago, and is working under coach Fabio Cannavaro, the former World Cup-winning captain of Italy's national team.