AFP/Fabio Muzziview photoMADRID (AFP) - Spanish media downplayed reports that Real Madrid had signed AC Milan star Kaka, saying details remain to be worked out and that Chelsea still hope to buy the Brazilian for a world record fee.
"The transfer (to Real) is still not official but all the parties are giving it as a done deal," the sports daily AS said Wednesday, noting "pressure" from Chelsea.
Another sports paper, Marca, predicted Kaka's transfer to Real would be completed "before next week."
The two papers, along with Radio Cadena Ser, had reported late Tuesday that the 27-year-old playmaker had signed for Real in a 65-million-euro deal.
They said newly-installed Real president Florentino Perez sealed the deal with AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani and Bosco Leite, father and agent of the 2007 world and European player of the year.
Kaka, currently in Brazil with the national team ahead of a World Cup qualifier against Uruguay, will sign up for five years and a salary worth nine million euros a year, they added.
But AS said Chelsea representatives had traveled to Milan on Tuesday to make an offer that topped Real's.
The English Premier League club would be ready to play 80 million euros, which would make Kaka the most expensive player in history, and offer him a salary of 12 million euros and his father a 12-million-euro commission.
The paper noted that Chelsea's new manager, Carlo Ancelotti, has just moved from AC Milan and could have some influence in luring Kaka to London.
Real Madrid has not released any statement on the negotiations.
Kaka himself insists he's staying put in italy, telling Monday's La Gazzetto dello Sport: "I'll tell you this for the last time, the very last. I don't want to leave Milan.
"To the millions of Milan fans, I tell you that I've made my choice. I've said I want to stay. Leave me in peace, please."
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Teenager Chris Wood has won over an influential new admirer after coping admirably when debuting at international level for the New Zealand soccer team.
The 17-year-old West Bromwich Albion striker was given his first cap for a "friendly" against Tanzania in Dar es Salaam yesterday (NZT) by All Whites coach Ricki Herbert.
New Zealand lost 1-2, with their lone goal coming via a Shane Smeltz penalty, but Wood left a lasting impression on Herbert. Killers were Jerryson Tegete and Mwinyi Kazimoto
By Arnold
Arusha Tanzania
why does chelsea want kaka? they don't need him, they already got good players! they win alot! real madrid keep losing and kaka is the only one who can help real madrid to win more trophies!
real madrid
----kaka----
-----"5"------
essien is worth about 13 mill, kaka is worth about 62 mill. see the difference
which fool keeps saying essien is an equal of kaka, imbasille. kaka plays same position as lampard or gerrard and is equal to them, how can anyone in their right mind think essien is that good, idiot!
paul d...remember milan-man utd 3-O?!u f loser...nobody is better than kaka u foul!
paul d...remember milan-man utd 3-O?!u f loser...nobody is better than kaka u foul!
kaka resta con noi!ricky is the new captain,so f... off all of u spanish and english losers!wich club in the world is the top crowned?!AC MILAN ...SO FORZA DIAVOLO!
As to whether Kaka is worth 73 million or not...who cares? Is he better than Gerrard, Essien, Lampard etc etc? That's a difficult question. Only when he's played in the Premiership for a season or two will we find out. I certainly think he has the potential to succeed in England, but the physicality of the league may be hard for him to adjust to. We've seen in the past how world class players have struggled in the EPL. Shevchenko is one name that springs readily to mind.
Kaka may well say he wants to stay at Milan for the rest of his career. However, if the club receive an offer of such amount that they cannot say no, he'll be sold. Players are commodities, to be used by the club until such time as they are no longer of use. That can be either when they are past their best, or when a suitable profit can be made. We would do well to remember that although players often disregard the fact that they have a contract with a club for a set period of time, the clubs also disregard this when it suits them. If a club wants to pay silly money for a player, and it makes sound business sense to accept the offer, it really doesn't matter if the player wants to stay or not.
@paul d: how can you say a player like kaka isnt worth it?!?! he has had 2 seasons riddled with injury and still can bury a team when he is in form. do you not recall how he man-handled man u in 07? and essien?!?!? you think essien is on par w gerrard and kaka?!? did you mean to make sense or trying for humor?
im a man utd fan, lets get that straight, but if chelsea pay 73.5 million for kaka, then what is steven gerrard or micheal essien worth as they play the same position and are by far better players, roman abramovich is russian and should know better as the word kaka in russian means s--t, so roman, why, are you going to pay 73.5 million for and average bunch of s--t.
bdowsett, what are you talking about you muppet, of course money buys trophies Man Utd have been doing it for years. i bet you were one of the twats that said we wouldnt a trophy this year as well, knobhead.
I find this money splash on kaka to be ridiculous and a total waste. 80 mill euro can buy chelsea 4 top class players rather than spending it on an overinflated average player. Chelsea will be taking many steps backwards, believe!
why is everyone trying to buy kaka? he has been average for years he is not even in the top 5 players in the world right now! total waste of money!
now for Villa!
2nd!!! boo hoo!
please let this be true...the father woulde be really stupid not to accept this deal... 12 m in commision????
Money doesn't buy trophies and this player ain't gonna make any difference to Chelskie. They still won't win anything next season!!
i wish chealse could sign kaka noty real becouse real are toooooooooooo old to compete with chealse.
2nd woo hoo!!
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