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Real Madrid to confirm world record £56m signing of Kaka
Real Madrid are expected to confirm a world record £56 million deal to bring Kaka to the Bernabeu, a move that signals a return to the 'Galactico' strategy under new president Florentino Perez.
Kaka helped Brazil to a comfortable 4-0 World Cup qualifying win in Uruguay on Saturday and, despite previously having signalled a wish to remain at AC Milan, admitted that clarification on his future is imminent.
Perez met last week with Bosco Leite, Kaka's father and agent, as well as AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani, who prepared the ground for his sale by contrasting the financial position of Italian clubs to that of Madrid or Barcelona.
"The reasons for the departure of Kaka are solely economic," Galliani said. "Milan cannot go on losing €70 million a year."
It is understood that Milan owner and Italy prime minister Silvio Berlusconi had requested that an announcement regarding the departure of Kaka should be delayed until after last night's results of the European elections.
Perez hopes that Kaka will be the first of a series of big-name arrivals at Madrid this summer, with Franck Ribery, David Villa, David Silva, Xabi Alonso and Cristiano Ronaldo all among the potential targets.
Real have the security of enormous revenue streams to help support their plans, although it is also believed that Perez will have to ask Spanish banks to help fund his spending spree. Perez has argued that the commercial spin-offs can make his policy economically viable but there is already concern around Madrid that the current approach could lead to considerable debt. One big advantage for Madrid in any bidding war for players with the likes of Chelsea and Manchester City is the rapid decline in the value of the pound and the impending 50p tax rate.
Chelsea were interested in Kaka, but have denied reports that they had bid £73.5 million for the Brazilian. They are also interested in Bayern Munich's Ribery and Milan's Andrea Pirlo, although Galliani has suggested that Kaka will be the only major departure, with the Italian club expected to renew their interest in Arsenal forward Emmanuel Adebayor.
"We're not falling apart," he said. "The other big players are not for sale. Now a great attacker will arrive." Chelsea could also move for Adebayor, with new manager Carlo Ancelotti having almost brought the Togo forward to Milan last year.
Adebayor was clearly flattered by Milan's interest, though he has since claimed that he is "100 per cent" certain to remain with Arsenal next season.