La Liga - Real Madrid sign Kaka in £60m deal

Eurosport - Tue, 09 Jun 20:46:00 2009

Real Madrid have completed the signing of Brazilian playmaker Kaka from Milan for just under £60 million.

2009 Brazil Kaka - 0

The 27-year-old international has agreed to a six-year contract to become the first player to join Real since Florentino Perez returned to the presidency this month.

Reports said the transfer fee was around 68 million euros (£58.8m) which would make it the second biggest ever after Zinedine Zidane joined Real from Juventus for around 73m euros (£63.1m) in 2001.

Zidane's move was worth £46.5m at the time, but has 'increased' since then due to exchange rate fluctuations. Nevertheless, the Frenchman's remains indisputably the largest since both fees were negotiated in euros.

Kaka completed a routine medical earlier on Monday in Recife, where Brazil face Paraguay at home in a World Cup qualifier on Wednesday.

Kaka said he was leaving the Italians on good terms.

"Everything I've always done for Milan has been by mutual agreement, from the moment I arrived until my departure today," he said at the Brazil team hotel. "I'm leaving by the front door."

"I've won everything that I wanted as a player and this is a new motivation for me."

"I'm sure Real Madrid will build a competitive team which can start winning titles again."

The official unveiling in Madrid is likely to take place at the end of the month, after the Confederations Cup in South Africa.

"We are working on building a good team, an important team, and this has only just begun," Perez told radio station Onda Cero.

Milan thanked Kaka for his contribution.

"Milan thanks the man Kaka and the champion Kaka for his decisive contributions to so many victories obtained in the last six years," the Serie A club said.

"His loss on the field, though serious, can be filled. It will, however, be very difficult to fill the void left by Kaka the man."

Kaka has long been a target for Real Madrid since former president Ramon Calderon promised to sign him in his election campaign in 2006 but failed to deliver.

Calderon resigned in January paving the way for Perez to come back three years after he stood down, and he was returned unopposed to the post.

Perez has promised to deliver a "spectacular sporting project" built around the world's greatest players, and local media have spoken of a 300m euro (£259.5m) war chest which will be used to finance a second 'Galactico era' at the Bernabeu.

Having lured the likes of Luis Figo, Zinedine Zidane and David Beckham to Real earlier in the decade, Perez's flagship first signing on his return was Kaka, a move seen as both a declaration of intent and a dig at his predecessor.

He has also spoken of interest in Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo, Bayern Munich's Franck Ribery, Liverpool's Xabi Alonso and Valencia duo David Villa and David Silva.

New coach Manuel Pellegrini is the man tasked with blending these talents into a team capable of challenging treble-winners Barcelona.

Kaka will not face much competition in midfield which was one of Real's weakest areas last season as they lacked flair players capable of opening up sides in big games.

His arrival will also cheer Real fans clamouring for a more entertaining brand of football, and who had often chanted "Where is Kaka?" at player presentations under Calderon over the last couple of years.

Reuters

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  1. getachew44 i gave you thumb up
    i think now real madrid­ will be very strong
    sad days
    kaka make us ill

    From angel.milan27, on Wed 10 Jun 10:36AM

  2. oh no pep died?
    why why why god?
    nevermind better for­ him!
    he would die next year painfuly!

    From black, on Wed 10 Jun 10:25AM

  3. you are completely WRONG about messi
    he is not gay
    but­ he is lesb........

    From James, on Wed 10 Jun 10:09AM

  4. hey getachew44 gurdiola has died with swine flu
    poor­ man he died before watching the new galacticos

    From James, on Wed 10 Jun 10:04AM

  5. now let us end the joke and be serious
    if there is figo­ case this summer, how many people will be shocked?
    i­ think it might cause heartAttack, high blood pressure­ and imflamatory
    which 2 will be new figo?
    eto and alves­ OR
    iniesta and tore
    If you think guardiol's era is­ almost at the end, give me thumb up
    if you think messi­ is gay report to me personaly

    From getachew44, on Wed 10 Jun 12:17AM

  6. Raimo K nice to here from you
    i heard that guardiola­ and ferguson are still in coma in hospital
    kaka's­ news was real shock to them.
    man u and barca's­ kingdom is almost over the real king is back
    plz­ don't tell them that villa ribery and ronaldo will­ come they might die

    From getachew44, on Tue 9 Jun 11:40PM

  7. Now the madridista comments are back! Load of p r i c k­ s! Shame on you all madridistas! And shame on Real­ Madrid! ANTIMADRIDISTA!!!

    From damnsoldja, on Tue 9 Jun 11:07PM

  8. Madrid are still w.ank with or without Kaka. Add­ Ronaldo and the result is the same 1+1=2 not a team of­ 11. Barca is still better than you lot and you can­ have Ronaldo if he wants to go to you. We'll just­ buy Benzema and Valencia with the money we make off of­ him. Laughing all the way to the bank

    From damnsoldja, on Tue 9 Jun 10:49PM

  9. what a load of kaka!

    From DARRAL, on Tue 9 Jun 10:02PM

  10. To be fair i am suprised noone has madea move on­ benzema.

    From Raimo K, on Tue 9 Jun 8:41PM
  11. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    I hope I can be a well-educated man's someone­ special. I have long legs, blond hairs and blue eyes.­ Im kind, well-educated, humurous and cute. Reach me at ­ _____K issMillionaires C o M_____

    From summerfun264, on Tue 9 Jun 8:04PM

  12. getachew44 way to go mate. your comments have been­ absolutely spot on. Go madrid!!!

    From Raimo K, on Tue 9 Jun 8:01PM

  13. shame he could have come to my utd wot a hunk lol

    From allmanufansrgay1, on Tue 9 Jun 7:47PM

  14. Real Madrid next season.
    Cassillas
    Ramos ­ Vidic Pepe Marcelo
    Diarra Alonso
    Ronaldo ­ Kaka Ribery
    Villa

    From Raimo K, on Tue 9 Jun 7:32PM

  15. Goooooooooooo Madrid. Barca and Guardiola will fall­ like Rijkard did, like van gaal did. Here come the new­ kings of europe.

    From Raimo K, on Tue 9 Jun 7:31PM

  16. why would someone come here to post comments that­ doesnt make sense. Where u one of the referees Madrid­ bribed or one of the politicians. You dont just say­ rubbish just because u dont like Madrid. Madrid were­ very strong then, that is why they won trophies. They­ are not as strong now, that is why they dont win too­ many trophies.As simple as that. Next time, let your­ comment be reasonable. And as for Kaka coming to­ madrid. I believe its good for him since Milan wanted­ to sell him to get more money and he always wanted to­ play for madrid. so its a dream come true for him. This­ isnt about the money for Kaka but about fulfilling his­ dream to play for Madrid.

    From Alex, on Tue 9 Jun 6:22PM

  17. LOU_ZEV, WHAT MADRID HAS DONE FOR THE PAST 100 YEARS­ IS: BRIBE REFEREES AND POLITICIANS EVERYWHERE, STEAL­ TROPHIES AND PLAYERS FROM OTHER CLUBS AND USE THE MONEY­ OF ALL THE SPANIARDS TO SIGN PLAYERS. GOOD­ ACHIEVEMENT!!!

    From Eslay, on Tue 9 Jun 5:18PM

  18. tim stil barca is not a shadow of what madrid has­ acived congrats on barcas winnings about time you made­ history we have done that for the past 100 years

    From lou_zev, on Tue 9 Jun 4:06PM
  19. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    oh i almost forget the final of CL is in santiago­ bernabeu
    i think the final will be btwn to madrid clubs­ in their city
    athletico vs real
    kaka ronaldo villa vs­ aguero simao forlan
    to barca fans
    you are welcome in­ bernabeu to see world stars

    From getachew44, on Tue 9 Jun 4:05PM

  20. fat spanish waiter kaka the same as zidane and raul are­ finished now i think that any barcelona fan would wish­ that any home grown barcelona player would be a shadow­ of what raul has been. coz of his history there is not­ a player in the barcelona ranks that chalenges raul and­ or casillas thanks

    From lou_zev, on Tue 9 Jun 3:55PM
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