Diamonds Are Forever: Ronaldinho at Attacking Mid Could Enhance Milan's Attack

Diamonds are the strongest rock in the world.

They do not scratch. Go ahead, try and scratch a diamond.

Diamonds are forever.

Milan manager Massimiliano Allegri may want to think about that saying.

Everybody knows that on Saturday and Tuesday respectively, Milan acquired superstar forwards Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Robinho. It is widely agreed that adding these players into the mix with Brazilian stars Ronaldinho and Pato makes Milan's attack the greatest in the world.

But in Milan's 4-3-3, which was introduced by former boss Leonardo and retained by Allegri, where do you fit four superstar scorers?

I would highly suggest Milan revise their 4-3-3.

Using the same idea, Milan could utilize the talents of all four by moving current left winger Ronaldinho into an attacking midfielder position, allowing Robinho to move into his slot while Ibrahimovic takes the lone striker position from Marco Borriello, who now plays for Roma. Pato would remain in his right winger position, which I am sure he would not mind, having scored twice from the position in Milan's 4-0 opening victory over Lecce.

Ronaldinho has been criticized for lacking fitness and the motivation to track back on defense since he joined Milan.

At the moment, following his best season in a few years (despite being snubbed by Dunga for Brazil's World Cup squad), Ronaldinho appears to be in the best shape and playing the best football we have seen from him since his golden Barcelona days, when he was two-time FIFA World Player of the Year (2004, 2005) and the star of the Blaugrana side that won the UEFA Champions League in 2006.

The Gaucho had some incredible highlights during the 2009/2010 campaign. He led AC Milan with 15 goals and 17 assists in all competition. He scored a masterful hat trick in a 4-0 thrashing of Siena.

That performance followed probably an even better performance when he scored two goals at the Stadio Olimpico as Milan dominated Juventus in the first of two 3-0 triumphs. It was clearly the best form he had been in since before his falling out at the Nou Camp.

The opening match of the 2010/2011 campaign gives me even more confidence that Ronaldinho is, officially, back.

He may not have scored a goal of his own, but he was the master of the grand performance which AC Milan displayed in their thrashing of Lecce. His touches were excellent, especially his 1v1 footwork which brought us back to his masterful Samba days when he was a master of passing.

In total, Ronaldinho created seven goal-scoring opportunities with his passing. He had one assist, an outstanding, world-class through ball for Pato which absolutely tore the defense apart, as the then 20-year-old (Pato celebrated his birthday on September 2nd) made Lecce keeper Antonio Rosati come off his line, at which point the poor Italian did not stand a chance.

In fact, Pato is one of the crucial reasons I suggest the "diamond" to put all four on the field. After bringing in Ibrahimovic and Robinho, as weird as it is to say, it may have possibly been Pato who would find himself being alternated in.

That is simply not something that Alexandre Pato should have to do.

People may argue Pato and Ronaldinho, but Ronaldinho has become the playmaker on this squad. After bringing in two high profile signings, it unfortunately may have been Pato who found himself with the short straw.

By moving to a diamond with Ronaldinho at attacking mid, you allow Pato to stay in that right winger position.

At that point, you have two of the world's greatest, fastest scoring threats on your wings with one of the world's greatest poachers at striker AND one of the world's best playmakers and scorers at attacking midfield behind the three frontmen.

It could be goals galore at Milan this season.

Back to Ronaldinho's getting up and back, I do not see Ronaldinho lacking the fitness or motivation to track back and help Andrea Pirlo and Massimo Ambrosini in the midfield.

Milan have a strong defense, with Alessandro Nesta and Thiago Silva anchoring in the middle and the talented fullbacks Luca Antonini and Gianluca Zambrotta protecting the wings. Pirlo and Ambrosini are excellent midfielders defensively, Ambrosini in particular. However, they will need that extra support.

Robinho may not always be a reliable box-to-box winger. Pato can be helpful, but Ronaldinho will need to track back. He has the fitness and the motivation to be able to be very useful as a midfielder in the middle of the park. This will also make countering easier, as Pirlo is an excellent outlet passer and Ronaldinho is very talented when it comes to beginning the attack from the center of the field.

Overall, with Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Ronaldinho, Pato, Robinho, Filippo Inzaghi, and up-and-coming reserve Nnamdi Oduamadi, Milan can definitely say they have the best attack in Europe and the world, better than Barcelona's.

Utilizing this advantage to ensure maximum potential, Milan must go to a restructured 4-3-3, more of a 4-2-1-2-1 (or 4-2-1-3, whatever you want to call it). A diamond formation up top with Pato and Robinho on the wings, Ibrahimovic at striker, and Ronaldinho as attacking midfielder can give Milan an absolutely astounding and deadly attack while not leaving the defense and midfield out to dry.

Sticking with the three traditional midfielders (most likely Clarence Seedorf included with Pirlo and Ambrosini) would not be making the most of a unique opportunity. By implementing the four main attackers into lineup using that diamond, you not only add a little bit more youth (Ronaldinho and Ibrahimovic are both 28, Robinho is 26, and Pato is 21, but all have a lot of experience), speed, and fitness into the squad, not to mention even more firepower.

I see the diamond attacking formation as a perfect use of talent for Milan. No matter what, once Milan discover the perfect way to utilize their new found talent, Milan will surely be favorites to clinch Serie A and to compete for the Champions League title.

As they say, form is temporary, class is forever.

Glory is forever.

Diamonds are forever.

The diamond formation with Milan's incredible offensive arsenal could return Milan to the form that has made it world class and return it to its rightful glory.