Kris Voakes’ Calcio Debate: Time For Clarence Seedorf To Join Ronaldinho In The Milan Reject Bin

One of the great attractions of moving to Milan for me personally was the opportunity to regularly see players like Seedorf, Andrea Pirlo and their former team-mate Kaka flick on that switch of brilliance for which they had become known over the years. And of that group it was Seedorf who for a long time had all of the know-how, all of the experience, all of the class within his every touch to be the ultimate in game-breaker, and had all of the medals to go with it too. Four Champions League triumphs with three different clubs – Ajax, Real Madrid and Milan twice – told only part of the story behind the ability the Dutch No. 10 could offer.

So what went wrong? Well, father time has certainly had a say in the Surinamese-born star’s decline over recent years, but there seems to be more than just that. From a world class attacking midfielder, Seedorf has become a joke figure around the streets of the fashion capital. Many Milanisti groan at the very thought of him taking to the field for their side. His mystique and appeal have gone, his legs have gone, but worse than that, so has his intelligent footballing brain.

Maybe the latter is down to his new unfamiliar surroundings. Due to the introductions of many a new ‘No. 10’ to Milanello – Ronaldinho, Robinho and Cassano have all come in in the last three seasons – Seedorf has invariably been asked to cover one of the three slots across the midfield, but has looked extremely out of place in every one. Too often his inability (or indifference) in the tackling department has caught Milan out. Inexperienced full-backs have been let down by his inability to track a man properly when playing wide of the midfield axis.

But on Sunday he was that very axis, with Andrea Pirlo missing through injury. Pirlo is somebody who broke the mould in many ways when he dropped back to play the deeper midfield role. This was not a veteran seeking to cover for his ageing body, but rather the most intelligent of ball-players finding comfort in the increased space, which he could often make for himself in order to drive his team forward with the kind of ingenuity and vision that few can display from that area of the field. But now, if anything, even Pirlo can no longer play that position, so the decision to play Seedorf there was strange in the least.

Seedorf’s contract expires in the summer, but using him as a midfielder many more times before then can only lead to further question marks over the once-heralded footballer’s ability to help Milan in their title quest. It would be of greater benefit were the club to move him aside this month and replace him with a more functional midfielder, one who is suited to the task currently being asked of Seedorf.

The Rossoneri have become known as a club who hold on to great names too long, almost as a gesture of good will. But after his no-nonsense approach to the exit of Ronaldinho, Allegri has to be eqhttps://editor.goal.com/indian/manage/article/edit/2299839ually heartless with Seedorf. It can only be for the good of the club.

Our  provides the best breaking news online and our  football fan community is unmatched worldwide. Never miss a thing again!