WELCOME, KAKA!



One of my most respected player of the current era, I am really happy that he finally moved on to play for Real Madrid. Season after season, the rumours of his transfer to Real Madrid and later Manchester City have finally ended. I am glad he did not go to Manchester City instead. Well, for all the respect to AC Milan, Kaka has come of age and it is the right time for him to try a new league. Therefore, please respect his decision as he is also entitled to enjoy his football elsewhere. After Ancelotti left and Maldini retired, it seems like AC Milan are left with many rumours of more players leaving, with Pato and Pirlo as the next hot favourites.

Now, the question is how much is the transfer fee? It is rumoured to be around 68m euros ($94.05m or £58.9m), which easily overtake the previous world record of £47m of Zinedine Zidane. Technically, he is still the second most expensive player of all time.

"By some measures, Kaka is even more expensive than Zidane. To give a rough guide, back then €76m was worth £46m, while Kaka's transfer of around €65m this year is worth a mammoth £56.3m.

However, as both the Zizou and Kaka moves took place between Italian and Spanish clubs, working off euros makes more sense. The euro, in fact, has not fluctuated quite as much as the weakening pound has since 2001, meaning that Kaka will, to most observers, be the second-most expensive transfer of all time."
(Kaka Hits #2 Slot On World's Most Expensive Transfer List)

Another question will be what is the jersey number that he will wear. It has already been talked alot that he will wear the No.5 jersey of Zidane. It will be incredible if Zidane will be the one to hand over the jersey to him.

The last question is who's next to come in and who is/are going out? I heard of Cristiano Ronaldo, Franck Ribery and Zlatan Ibrahimovic to be linked. I prefer Franck Ribery anytime!

Real Madrid's statement read:

"Ricardo Izecson dos Santos Leite, Kaka, is a Real Madrid player after an agreement was reached with AC Milan. The Brazilian footballer has now successfully passed all medical tests. Kaka has signed a contract with Real Madrid for the next six seasons."

AC Milan's statement read:

"From next season, Kaka will play at Real Madrid. Milan thank Kaka the man and the great champion for his decisive contribution to the many victories over the last six years.

"It will be very difficult to fill the void that Kaka will leave, as he is a shining example of commitment and professionalism. A. C. Milan, on behalf of the Rossoneri managers, players and supporters, send him the most cordial and affectionate wishes for the continuation of his sporting career."

"My desire was to stay at Milan, but the world financial crisis has affected a lot of clubs, especially Milan," he told the media.

"As such, I spoke with the Milan board and we concluded that the best thing for everyone would be to sell me."

"Using the No. 5 would be a big responsibility," he reasoned.

"Zidane was an excellent player for both Real Madrid and the French national team, and I would prefer not to use the same number as him. But let's wait a little longer before we decide.

"The challenge with Madrid is fascinating. I’m 27 years old and I’ve already conquered everything as a player. I will go there as one of the best in the world but I have not yet conquered anything there. It will be my new motivation.

“Together we will win many titles. The president [Florentino Perez] is still making contacts and continuing to develop a very competitive team so that we can become the champions of Spain and Europe again."

“Beckham said to me that Real Madrid are a fantastic club to play for, and that it would help me grow even more as a player.

“I am excited to play alongside historical figures such as Raul and Iker Casillas, and I want to play a key role to help the club create history again.”

Finally, he admitted that the deal had been closed “a long time ago”, but he decided to wait until today to speak to the press after the clubs had released an official statement.

And he also had a parting message to Milan: “I will always be grateful to the club and to president Silvio Berlusconi, who provided me with a lot of happy memories.”

As for me, I have been eager to wear the No.10th Champions League trophy jersey for a long, long, long, long, long, long, long (X1,000,000) time. Please Kaka, help me will ya? I promise to buy the official jersey with your name on it!

HONOURS

Sao Paulo
Copa São Paulo de Juniores: 2000
Torneio Rio-São Paulo: 2001
Super Campeonato Paulista: 2002

Milan
Serie A: 2004
Italian Super Cup: 2004
UEFA Champions League: 2007
UEFA Super Cup: 2007
FIFA Club World Cup: 2007

International
FIFA World Cup: 2002
FIFA Confederations Cup: 2005

Individual
Revista Placar Bola de Ouro: 2002
Campeonato Brasileiro Bola de Prata (best player by position): 2002
CONCACAF Gold Cup Best XI: 2003
Serie A Foreign Footballer of the Year: 2004, 2006, 2007
Serie A Footballer of the Year: 2004, 2007
UEFA Champions League Bronze Top scorer: 2005/2006
UEFA Champions League Best Midfielder: 2005
UEFA Team of the Year: 2006, 2007
FIFPro World XI: 2006, 2007, 2008
UEFA Champions League Top Scorer: 2006–07
UEFA Champions League Best Forward: 2006–07
UEFA Club Footballer of the Year: 2007
FIFPro World Player of the Year: 2007
Ballon d'Or: 2007
FIFA Club World Cup Golden Ball: 2007
Toyota Award: 2007
FIFA World Player of the Year: 2007
Onze d'Or: 2007
IFFHS World‘s Best Playmaker: 2007
IAAF Latin Sportsman of the Year: 2007
Time 100: 2008
Time 100: 2009
Maracanã Hall Of Fame: 2008
Samba d'Or: 2008
FIFA Team of the Year: 2008