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| | Saturday 5 April, 2008 | | Blog: Ka-Pa-Ro Mk2 | | The rumours that Ronaldinho will join Milan in the summer are back and James Sugrue is finally starting to come round to the idea of the trickster in a Rossoneri shirt |  |  | | I have to start here by admitting that I have only recently become a believer and supporter of Ronaldinho's proposed move to Milan. In previous times I may have claimed, perhaps a little short-sightedly, that the switch would neither happen nor be beneficial to either the Rossoneri or the Brazilian superstar.
I saw his poor performance at the 2006 World Cup as evidence that the buck-toothed wonder was incapable of playing in the same team as Kaka. With both players in their side, Brazil struggled to produce flowing football and seemed a bit hit and miss. As a strong promoter of Milan's 4-3-1-2 performances over Carlo Ancelotti's toothless Christmas tree, I could see no possible outcome from the rumoured transfer other than disappointment and under-achievement.
I may even have protested furiously against using the Ronaldinho story as a cover-feature for Calcio Italia magazine. However, after realising that there is little chance of Carletto changing his mind when it comes to his tactics, I'm starting to see this deal in a different light. Clarence Seedorf isn't used to his best playing behind the strikers and the Christmas tree seems to leave too much of the creative responsibility weighing heavily on Kaka's shoulders.
What better solution is there than Ronaldinho? He would free Seedorf to take a slightly deeper role where he could be more influential on the counter-attack, while also sharing the load that Kaka is currently struggling to hold. Much was made of Milan's potential Ka-Pa-Ro trident in January, when Kaka was teamed-up with Ronaldo and Alexandre Pato. That could have been brilliant, but was ultimately halted by Ronnie's injury problems. But what about a new Ka-Pa-Ro, with 'Dinho succeeding the Diavolo No 99, just as he has for the Selecao? That would surely be a genuinely terrifying prospect for defenders around Italy and beyond.
Will the Barcelona star actually get the chance to prove me right though? As much as one month ago I would have laughed off the reports as wishful thinking and newspaper talk, but the rumours just seem too persistent to ignore. Add in the constant talk coming out of Spain about unrest at Barca, with Ronnie supposedly at the centre of a dissatisfied group in the Catalans' squad, and it all seems to fit. If the latest claims that he could leave for as little as £16m are true, then he represents a minimal risk for Vice-President Adriano Galliani and his transfer team. Ronaldinho has already succeeded in Brazil, France and Spain - three very different football cultures - so I see no reason why he would struggle in the peninsula.
Given Barca's poor performance in the League this season and their seeming inability to keep up with rivals Real Madrid, anything other than Champions League victory could see a Nou Camp revolution, with Ronaldinho one of the first out the door. If that proves to be accurate, then La Liga's loss will be Serie A's gain.
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