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Key facts about Brazilian playmaker Kaka, who has completed a £58 million transfer from Milan to Real Madrid.

* Makes an immediate impact for Sao Paulo, scoring 12 goals in 27 appearances in the 2001 season.

* Plays just 18 minutes in the 2002 World Cup, which Brazil win.

* Moves to Milan in 2003 and makes his debut on September 1 in a 2-0 win over Ancona. He goes on to score 10 league goals and four Champions League goals in his first season and then spurs Milan to the Italian title in 2004.

* Helps Brazil to the quarter-finals of the World Cup in 2006.

* Real Madrid make their interest well-known following the tournament and Kaka firmly establishes himself as one of the best in the world as he inspires Milan to their seventh European Cup title in 2007.

* Wins FIFA World Player of the Year award and the Ballon d'Or in 2007.

* A nagging knee injury hampers his 2007-08 season at Milan, who finish a disappointing fifth in Serie A and lose to Arsenal in the Champions League first knockout round.

* Manchester City bid a world-record fee of more than 100 million euros for him in January 2009 but talks fall through. Milan end the season third in Serie A.

* Kaka expresses his love for Milan but following coach Carlo Ancelotti's departure for Chelsea and Florentino Perez's re-election as Real president, a deal worth a reported 68 million euros is done quickly with the Serie A side in need of funds to reinvest.

Reuters