How would Bayern Munich's Arjen Robben fit in at AC Milan?

Serie A leaders have shown an interest in signing the Dutchman

It’s been just 10 days since word started to spread that AC Milan were showing an interest in Arjen Robben, but 10 days can be a long time in football.

It all started well enough as Bayern Munich battered Hamburg 6-0 at the Allianz Arena, but last Tuesday they squandered an away lead to crash out of the Champions League to Inter and within hours their Dutch winger was making his feelings known.

Having started the week by boasting that Bayern had their very own style of attacking play that the Nerazzurri couldn’t hope to match, by Thursday he was blasting his own defenders for “making too many individual mistakes that can easily be prevented”, and warning the club hierarchy that a season in the Europa League would be “the worst thing that could happen – it'd be better not to play at all”.

Suddenly the prospect of him joining the Rossoneri gained credence. Originally little more than a conversation with countryman and Milan midfielder Mark van Bommel, Bayern's disastrous season - which currently sees them outside of the Bundesliga's Champions League places - means that the potential for a move must be countenanced. And there are plenty of reasons to believe he’ll fit in at Milanello too.

With the bulk of the squad having played in Leonardo’s self-anointed “4-2-crazy” formation last season, there is certainly the potential to play attacking football and ply Robben with enough possession to satisfy his appetite. And the Brazilian’s successor at the San Siro, Massimiliano Allegri, has shown already in dispensing with the services of Ronaldinho that he is more than ready to discard superstar names for the benefit of the club, meaning their current wealth of attackers could well be cut back to allow the former Chelsea and Real Madrid man to flourish.

The one thing that can surely be guaranteed if Robben does arrive in Lombardy is a link-up with Zlatan Ibrahimovic, but beyond those two it’s fair to say that attacking positions could well be up for grabs. Though Alexandre Pato is generally considered a sure starter, there is talk that he could be allowed to leave in the summer. If he were to stay in a squad including Robben he may well be left fighting for one of the last two attacking slots with Robinho, Antonio Cassano and possibly even Kevin-Prince Boateng. It may be that in some games there may even be only one spot available if Allegri goes with a 4-3-2-1 or 4-3-1-2, but Robben is good enough and flexible enough to fit into most formations, which Allegri and Milan will welcome.

But would Robben actually want to play in Serie A? The Diavoli are one of the squads best equipped to play flair football, and the wide man has shown a tendency to try new leagues and new cultures having already played in England, Spain and Germany since leaving his native Netherlands. Goal.com's Bundesliga expert Clark Whitney believes that Robben will remain in Bavaria this summer, but if Bayern don't get their act together and at least finish in the top three then a transfer to the fashion capital of Milan is more than a possibility.

AC Milan with Robben - the possible setups

4-2-3-1	4-3-2-1
Abbiati Abate - Nesta - Thiago Silva - Zambrotta Van Bommel - Boateng/Pirlo Robben - Cassano - Robinho Ibrahimovic	Abbiati Abate - Nesta - Thiago Silva - Zambrotta Boateng - Van Bommel - Pirlo/Ambrosini Robben - Robinho/Cassano Ibrahimovic
The most regular formation if Milan hold onto all of the forwards currently on their roster. Robben may be asked to occasionally play from the left to accommodate Pato in a more familiar right-sided role. Best time to use: Most Serie A games, Champions League home games	Providing extra support in the midfield, this setup would allow Milan to give Robben more freedom if anything given the extra numbers in behind him. There'd be little room for big names though. Best time to use: Champions League away games, key Serie A away games
4-3-3	4-4-2 (4-2-2-2)
Abbiati Abate - Nesta - Thiago Silva - Zambrotta Boateng - Van Bommel - Pirlo/Ambrosini Robben - Ibrahimovic - Robinho	Abbiati Abate - Nesta - Thiago Silva - Zambrotta Van Bommel - Pirlo/Boateng Robben                             Robinho Pato - Ibrahimovic
Similar to the 4-3-2-1, but with Robben and Robinho pushing higher up alongside Ibrahimovic to ensure the Swede doesn't get isolated as can happen at times. Best time to use: Serie A games against mid-table sides, or Champions League home games when high pressing is needed.	A twist on the modern classic as often employed by the Brazilian national side. Robben and Robinho would be given the freedom to practically make a 4-2-4 when Milan are in possession. Best time to use: Serie A away games, some Champions League away games.

 

Nini/Goal