Ronaldinho, probably the best player of this generation, looks to be on his way to the San Siro to play for AC Milan next season. Football fans who do not keep a close eye on Serie A would be forgiven for thinking the Rossoneri are still dominating the Italian top-flight. After all, they are currently the World and European Champions.

This couldn’t be further from the truth. Carlo Ancelotti’s side lost their ninth game of the season on Saturday night, away at Juventus. They are now four points behind Fiorentina in fourth place and are in serious danger of not qualifying for the Champions League next season.

A Champions League without AC Milan is almost unthinkable – the five-time winners of the premier competition in Europe are level on points with Sampdoria, with Udinese a point behind. The Rossoneri could finish as low as seventh.

‘Milan need a transfer policy that is fitting for a club of their stature. If they continue to sign old players, they will consign themselves to UEFA Cup football for many seasons to come’


It was clear for all to see during the two-legged tie with Arsenal in the last 16 of the Champions League that this Milan side are past their sell-by date. In football every great cycle comes to an end and this side just has too many old players.

A summer overhaul is necessary and it is fairly likely that Dida, Cafu, Kaladze, Emerson, Gattuso, Inzaghi, Seedorf and Gilardino could all be on their way out. The great Ronaldo is suffering from another long-term injury and Paolo Maldini may only have a year left – that is if he changes his mind on retirement.

For so long the Rossoneri were a dominant force in Europe and in Serie A and the basis of a fine team remains. Alessandro Nesta and Andrea Pirlo are world-class players whilst Kaka and Alexandre Pato bring Brazilian attacking flair of the highest order.

In recent days the transfer gossip pages have been awash with claims that Ronaldinho and Andriy Shevchenko will be the first two transfer signings this summer.

Ronaldinho, just a few seasons ago, was the best player in the world. At 28, he still has time to recapture fitness and his best form. Barcelona may well regret the decision to sell the gap-toothed Brazilian to an Italian club in much the same way they probably still can’t believe they offloaded Maradona to Napoli in 1984.

But Shevchenko is almost the last player to rescue the Rossoneri from the doldrums. The Ukrainian striker was one of the best marksmen to ever play for Milan but his time at Chelsea may well have signalled the beginning of the end of a great career.

Milan are awash with old strikers, including the likes of Alberto Gilardino and Pippo Inzaghi. Amazingly they own the top scorer in Serie A in Marco Borriello, who is on loan at Genoa and is expected to travel with Italy to Euro 2008. Shevchenko’s return would only block Borriello’s chances at Milan next season.

Along with Pato, young Italian striker Alberto Paloschi has also established himself this year, scoring the quickest goal in Serie A history against Livorno after coming off the bench in February.

Milan don’t need Shevchenko and his imminent signing illustrates just where their priorities lie. The moves for Ronaldinho and Shevchenko seem to have been initiated by club supremo Silvio Berlusconi, newly re-elected prime minister of Italy.

Milan need a transfer policy that is fitting for a club of their stature. If they continue to sign old players, they will consign themselves to UEFA Cup football for many seasons to come. 

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