ROME: Brazil’s 2007 world footballer of the year Kaka completed his transfer from Serie A side AC Milan to Primera Liga’s Real Madrid on a a six-year deal late on Monday, both clubs announced.
While Real Madrid did not disclose the financial details, reports say the figure is in the region of $92 million, eclipsing the largest previous transfer set by Zinedine Zidane when he joined Madrid from Juventus for $65 million in 2001.
Write a new chapter
“I will be part of a new Real Madrid that will once again be champions in Europe and in Spain,” the player said at a press conference in the Brazilian city of Recife.
“It will be a new challenge for me and to live up to all the expectations placed on me and that will be motivation enough.
“I want to help write a new page in the history of the club by winning trophies with them.”
Kaka brushed off a suggestion that he could wear the coveted No. 5 shirt previously worn by Zidane and said the Frenchman would be an example to him.
“I don’t know what number, I’ll take my time choosing it and I’ll respect the numbers,” he said. “I’m grateful for the five (suggestion), but I think Zidane is Zidane. To avoid any type of comparison, I’m going to try and write my own history. But Zidane will serve as an example to me.”
Kaka had earlier undergone in Brazil a problem-free medical attended by Real Madrid’s Dr. Juan Carlos Hernandez as well as the Brazilian squad’s doctor, Jose Luiz Ronco.
Spectacular team
Real chairman Florentino Perez has established a €200 million war-chest for players, vowing to create a “spectacular team” capable of overtaking arch-rival Barcelona — which won the Primera Liga, Champions League and Spanish Cup in coach Pep Guardiola’s first season in charge — next season.
Kaka has been at AC Milan since arriving from Sao Paolo in 2003, scoring 70 goals in Serie A and 23 in the Champions League. He has won the 2007 Champions League with them, the 2004 league title, two European Super Cups and the World club championship in 2007.
Soft spot for Milan
Kaka, who is on World Cup duty for his country, said that although a new page in his career was opening up he would always have a soft spot for AC Milan despite the decision to sell him.
“I’m not disappointed in my relationship with Milan.
The club needed to make this sacrifice, and I understand this very well. I don’t blame the club for this. “Everything I’ve done for Milan has been by mutual agreement, from the moment I arrived until my departure today. I’m leaving by the front door.”
Despite previously saying he was happy at AC Milan, the size and timing of Madrid’s bid appears to have proved too much for the Italian Serie A champion to ignore. Last week, Milan president Silvio Berlusconi and chairman Adriano Galliani said the club had made huge financial losses in recent times.
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