Kaka leaves Milan as best friends
Reuters - Tuesday 09 June 2009, 01:52
RIO DE JANEIRO, June 8 - Brazilian playmaker Kaka
said Monday that he was leaving AC Milan for Real Madrid on
good terms and he understood that financial worries had forced
the Italian club to sell him.
"I'm not disappointed in my relationship with Milan," he
told reporters in the Brazil team hotel in Recife at a news
conference broadcast live on television.
"There has never been a (financial) crisis like this one, I
understand perfectly the club's position and I'm very grateful
to Milan and the president," added Kaka, who joined the
Rossoneri in 2003.
The 27-year-old has agreed to a six-year contract to join Madrid, which reports have said involves a transfer fee of around
68m Euro, the second biggest ever.
Zinedine Zidane joined Real from Juventus for around 73m Euro in 2001.
"I've won everything that I wanted as a player and this is
a new motivation for me," Kaka said.
"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."
MAJOR FORCE
Kaka, who scored in a 4-0 win in Uruguay on Saturday, is
with Brazil's squad for the World Cup qualifier at home to
Paraguay on Wednesday.
He said he was sure he could help his new club,
overshadowed this season by treble-winning Barcelona, become a
major force in Spanish and European football again.
"I'm sure Real Madrid will build a competitive team which
can start winning titles again as they have always done
throughout the club's history," he said.
"I'm sure Real can become major competitors in Spain and in
European football."
Kaka brushed off a suggestion that he could wear the
coveted number five 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."
He also had encouraging words for Milan's new coach
Leonardo.
"Leonardo will have been a player, director and coach of
the same club and I don't think many have achieved that.
"I hope I'm helping because there will be some money coming
into the till. Leonardo has the ability to keep Milan on the
right track."
More Kaka from FourFourTwo:
Kaka joins Madrid from Milan
Shy-boy demeanour hides ambition
Kaka leaves Milan as best friends
Kaka's exit a fresh blow for Italian football
Kaka: the factbox
Money talks and Kaka walks as Silvo suffers austerity
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