Rio de Janeiro, Jul 26 (IANS): Corinthians have agreed to sell striker Alexandre Pato to Spain's Villarreal, the Brazilian club's former president has said.

The three million-euro deal was all but confirmed during a meeting between officials from both clubs on Monday afternoon, according to the Globoesporte news portal, reports Xinhua.

Corinthians own 60 percent of the 26-year-old's economic rights with the remainder held by Pato himself.

"We have sold him," said Andres Sanchez, who was president of Corinthians from 2007 to 2012 and is still involved in the club. "You said that we wouldn't sell him but now we have. Later it will be confirmed."

Pato returned to Corinthians at the start of the month after ending a six-month loan spell at Chelsea.

The forward made just two appearances for the London club, scoring on his debut in the Blues' 4-0 Premier League victory over Aston Villa in April.

Pato has not played for Corinthians since December 2013, having joined the club from AC Milan 11 months earlier in a deal worth 15 million euros.

The Brazil international was then loaned out to Sao Paulo where he netted 38 times in two seasons before joining Chelsea.

Corinthians were keen to sell the forward during the current European transfer window to avoid losing him for nothing when his contract runs out in December.