This summer, Clarence Seedorf's contract will expire. Although vice president of Milan, Adriano Galliani, has said that the club's contract renewal efforts will fully commence in April, Italian media believe that this does not include Seedorf. It makes sense too; his preferred position is overcrowded with talent, and there is a lack of trust from teammates and coaches. So, what’s the point of staying on at such a team? Moreover, Seedorf is part of the high-salary echelon at Milan, earning 4 million Euros annually, which is quite glaring for a substitute player like him. However, the Dutchman is unwilling to accept a pay cut, so he can only choose to leave the team and join another.
Seedorf is an all-round midfielder who can play both as a midfielder and an attacking midfielder (playmaker). Since Massimiliano Allegri took over, the veteran Dutch player has often played as the attacking midfielder. But, there are simply too many options available for Milan at this position. Besides Seedorf, Allegri has also used Robinho, Antonio Cassano, Kevin-Prince Boateng, and even young Marko van Ginkel. In the competition among these players, Seedorf has lost his advantage. Even in the left midfield position, Seedorf cannot secure a starting spot. This position is increasingly dominated by Van Ginkel, while Mathieu Flamini and Boateng can also play here. Additionally, Andrea Pirlo occasionally steps in, and the newly joined Gregory van der Wiel adds further competition.
Of course, given Seedorf's experience and current condition, he is not without potential suitors. According to Italian media, his former club Ajax hopes for his return, but it seems more likely that the Dutchman might head to Major League Soccer (MLS) in the United States, where teams can offer him lucrative contracts. Two MLS teams are interested in Seedorf. One is Los Angeles Galaxy, where David Beckham plays. The relationship between Beckham and the Dutchman might serve as a guarantee for Los Angeles Galaxy to acquire him. The other team is New York Red Bulls, where Thierry Henry plays. The New York Red Bulls are not short of money, and if Seedorf joins, he could receive better remuneration than in Milan.
Besides the fierce competition that may lead to Seedorf's departure, distrust from teammates also makes the Dutchman's position more awkward. In the match against Parma, Seedorf opened the door to victory for the team, but he did not thereby gain acknowledgment from his teammates or coach. During the game, one of his shots went wide, which drew Cassano's dissatisfaction. The Bari boy thought he should have passed the ball to him, as Cassano's position was indeed better than Seedorf's shooting position. Additionally, Zlatan Ibrahimović loudly scolded Seedorf during the game. At the time, Ibrahimović had the ball and was looking for support from his teammates, but Seedorf was slow to get into position. As a result, the Swede had to choose to break through himself, leading to the ball being intercepted. Worse still, as he ages, Seedorf's concentration on the field is not as focused as before. In the match against Parma, he once had the ball stolen from him, almost resulting in a goal. This mistake directly led to Allegri substituting him with Robinho.