Real Madrid

Milan made one of the best purchases in recent times by picking up Kaka for eight million euros. After six seasons in Italy, Kaka joins Real Madrid as one of the great players of the last 20 years. Julio Maldonado of sports daily AS presents the last chapter of his series on the life and times of the Brazilian.

Kaka cost eight million euros; peanuts for what was being paid at the time. He signed in 2003 while 21 years old and quickly adjusted thanks to fellow Brazilians Leonardo, Cafu, Serginho and Dida. There was talk of loaning him out, but after seeing him play against Ancona his importance in Ancelotti’s starting eleven multiplied ten-fold. First season and first title. He debuted in September 2003, scored his first league goal against Inter and his first Champions League goal against Bruges in Belgium. He started 30 league matches and 11 Champions League matches; spectacular stats for a player who was already a symbol of his team. His only significant blunder was the tie against Deportivo that appeared all wrapped up but ended with Milan’s elimination. “We learned a lot. It was the first step in a series of triumphs,” commented Kaka years later.

2005 was a great year despite losing to Liverpool in the Champions League final. The season began with the signings of Stam, Dhorasso and Crespo. Kaka finally had a vacation by not playing in the Copa America in Peru. His adaptation was complete and he told Guerin Sportivo, "It’s strange.  During the year I think about Brazil and while on holiday I think about Milan.” He was settled into the Italian city with frequent visits the Santa Maria de Grazia church. Good restaurants like Il Giardinetto, the famous bar Magenta and, of course, the Brazilian churrasqueria Merimbao.

But let us return to football. He marveled as a midfielder free to roam, with his tremendous passing ability, elegance and mental speed that made him unstoppable. He won another league during a year that couldn’t have ended any better: he married Caroline Celico on 23 December 2005 in an Evangelical church in Sao Paulo. The following season he broke his personal record for goals, but between Brazil’s disappointing performance in the German World Cup, the defeat against Barcelona in the semifinals of the Champions League and a sad third-place Scudetto finish, many of Kaka’s hopes and dreams diminished.

They returned however in 2007, the year of his Ballon d’Or. The year he won the European Cup by exacting revenge on Liverpool and Pele’s phrase, “The new Cruyff has been born.” Shortly beforehand, Rui Costa responded to remarks about being substituted by saying, “I cannot complain about not being a starter. I have the future Ballon d’Or and best player in Europe at my side.” Rui Costa was right, and in December 2007, after defeating Boca in the FIFA Club World Cup with one goal and two assists, Kaka received the Ballon D’or followed by FIFA World Player of the Year. He had the world at his feet.

Kaka’s final days at Milan are recent. A team that ages with no remedy, the arrival of Ronaldinho that creates tension, too many matches without liberty on the pitch and slow football that is only detrimental to the team. Despite everything, he scored 31 goals in his last two seasons. But Milan does not work and he receives a huge offer from Manchester City that Berlusconi gives the green light to. Kaka rejects the offer based on his competitive zeal, but knows his departure from Italy is imminent. One of the greatest players of the last 20 years has arrived at Real Madrid.