Pirlo heaps more pressure on AC Milan pal Ronaldinho

Andrea Pirlo's performance for Italy last night has heaped more pressure on AC Milan teammate Ronaldinho.

The decision to play Pirlo behind the Azzurri strikers for last night's 2-0 win over Bulgaria has been celebrated by the local media this morning.

Now, Milan coach Leonardo is being urged to take Marcello Lippi's lead and play Pirlo as a trequartista in his line-up. Any decision to do so, however, would mean Ronaldinho being forced to make way.

Both Leonardo and president Silvio Berlusconi have made it clear that Ronaldinho will be given his chance in the opening rounds of this season, but his disappointing derby performance has led to calls for a change of thinking.

And Pirlo's display last night has only added to the demand for a shake-up in midfield from Leonardo for this weekend's clash with Livorno.