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. fantastic choice. who wouldnt desire to join the might­ galactcos?
    atick for you dude!!!
    many cups are still­ ahead for you.

    From eddymayanja, on Tue 9 Jun 12:57PM

  2. SAXTAY FECKUN POONS. A HOPE THEY WAR SCOATTASH POONS.­ WE DINNAE WANT YAR ANGLASH BASTURD POONS.

    From Donney, on Tue 9 Jun 12:48PM

  3. Some of you will have paid attention to other Real­ Madrid signings in the past other clearly­ haven't.

    Real Madrid put so much money through­ Spanish central banking system that no matter how much­ debt they are in they can never fold. (Unless the­ Spanish government goes bankrupt).

    It is common­ knowledge in the banking world that Real Madrid has­ their slate wiped every year and that is why they can­ continue and will continue to spend huge sums on­ players that other clubs can only dream of, even if­ this doesnt garuntee them success on the pitch, kaka­ will generate so much commercial success thats all Mr.­ Bank manager will be interested in.

    time for a cup of­ tea. ciao for now ya dobbers.

    From TheRealUK, on Tue 9 Jun 12:48PM

  4. UR A CAD ALTARNATAVELAY BYE MESELL A VARAY ACHEPONSIVE­ WAATCH.

    From Donney, on Tue 9 Jun 12:47PM

  5. THON AS A DASGASTANG AMOONT A DOSH HI. DASGASTANG. I­ CAD BAY CELTAC PERK FAY THOT OND THEN BARN AT TAY THA­ GROONED.

    From Donney, on Tue 9 Jun 12:46PM

  6. I have noticed nobody has commented on why he didnt­ sign for man city for £95m. Milan could have been £37m­ better off and sold him to a club that is not­ challenging in europe. That would have made a lot more­ sense but I think it does show it was kaka's­ decision to stay in january as he saw no short term­ trophys at mcfc even though he has gone from one­ average team (in europe) to another.

    From damon_antony_newton, on Tue 9 Jun 12:31PM

  7. ALEC H - seems your record is stuck

    From bazooka joe, on Tue 9 Jun 12:28PM

  8. madrid must be loaded

    From allmanufansrgay1, on Tue 9 Jun 12:25PM

  9. markome didn't he win the CL win Milan i think he­ turn at least 2 games on there head that year and win­ the player of the year too kaka is a footballer that­ football needs he's an ambassador for the game and­ a promoter of good football i wouldn't be surprised­ if he wins the best player on the planet next year.Also­ someone said he was 29 he's only 27 why would any­ team sign a 29 year old for 6 years

    From jomc_1999, on Tue 9 Jun 12:15PM

  10. I this the man who said he was happy to stay in Milan?­ Its a long way to commute to play for Madrid!
    That­ said if someone phoned me up right now and offered me a­ substantial salary increase i wouldn't say no and­ neither would you!

    From bazooka joe, on Tue 9 Jun 12:11PM

  11. who gives a @#$% all footballers are big girls.a little­ contact and they fall over crying and out of action for­ months.never see a rugby player doing that and they are­ on 1/4 of the money!!.

    From ALEC H, on Tue 9 Jun 12:10PM

  12. Crazy Kaka to agree joining the worst team, you burned­ yourself Kaka. this team is Raul record team, since­ they are very rich they are buying players but what­ have they done when they bought Zidane, figo, bekham,­ ronaldo. two years without a trophy. so good luck Kaka­ with the animals team, a choice that never expected,­ player like u shouldn't move to club like real.

    From ziads, on Tue 9 Jun 12:09PM

  13. Its refreshing to see one player wont be linked to a­ move to Man City at last!

    From Koppite 1973, on Tue 9 Jun 12:01PM

  14. i wouldn't have thought less of you, get44... it­ would be a massive effort to win european supercup this­ season without a place in the final...

    From Viktor, on Tue 9 Jun 11:59AM

  15. Where is that racist Platini now saying Madrid are­ ruining football. Nowhere to be seen.

    From rick.draper, on Tue 9 Jun 11:58AM

  16. sorry xabiis ours.....
    liverpool rockz...

    From Tamil S, on Tue 9 Jun 11:57AM

  17. @ lou_zev : SIX Barça home grown players started the CL­ final and were an itegral part of the team that won the­ treble : La Liga , the Copa and the CL . How many­ titles did Real Madrid win ? Answer : NADA !!

    From Tim, on Tue 9 Jun 11:57AM

  18. Bad move by Kaka and Real, great for Milan!! Shame­ about him leaving, not as big a player as everybody­ seems to think that he is though. Yes he's quality,­ but seldomly has he turned a match around for Milan.­ This amount of money will come in really handy for­ Milan.
    The President Berlusconi was in an awkward­ position, how could he refuse that kind of money when­ he is also the leader of Italy? Especially in this­ economic downturn his country would not have been­ happy!!!
    I can't wait to watch Real sink again! Why­ can't they find their own talent? Milan can tell­ them that winning the CL isn't about spending 100m­ every season and hoping for the best. After all Milan­ have lost more CL finals in 15yrs than Real have been­ in finals. PS Milan have also won 4 finals in the last­ 20yrs.
    Madridisti pezzi di medra!!!!!

    From Marco, on Tue 9 Jun 11:54AM

  19. Ronnie the Winker must be devastated. And Portugal not­ for the World Cup. Serve him right.

    From taff, on Tue 9 Jun 11:54AM

  20. general francisco franco would be pleased about this­ signing. say no more. long live barcelona fc. european­ champions. spanish champions. spanish cup winners.

    From rpatrickson, on Tue 9 Jun 11:45AM
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