Hasan Rossonero

This is the last bit I will write about the Kaka' saga.

In my opinion, we are being a bit naive about this whole affair.

The groundwork for Kaka's departure was laid down in 2006, when we, bruised from Calciopoli and a points deduction, had to endure him and his father meeting with Calderon.

Tuttosport, which is right maybe twice a year, broke with that story and most of us paid no attention to it.

On the heels of that clandestine meeting, Milan renewed Kaka's contract for the first time. In the press conference Kaka' said, "Yes, I met with Real, but Milan were the first to know about it."

That meeting showed two things:

1) Kaka's father was willing to listen to Real Madrid and their offer, undoubtedly emboldened by Milan's post-Calciopoli predicament.

2) Real Madrid could buy any player by virtue of ridiculous contracts and their nearly celestial status (Franco the criminal notwithstanding)


Bosco Leite's willingness, whether right or wrong, proved that while Kaka' may be angelic, his agents are like most people in this world--greedy.

After failing to sign Kaka', Calderon said, "Galliani told me that they're nervous because of Calciopoli, and in the future we may be able to do business." This was probably a lie, considering how much Galliani loathed Calderon.

Roll on 2007. Milan win the CL, and suddenly Kaka' staying is almost a foregone conclusion. But that summer, Real started a staggering offensive. It was thoroughly unscrupulous, and it mobilized AS and Marca. Report after report of Kaka' telling Berlusconi, "at least listen to their offer", or posing in the Real jersey.

Kaka' comes back from his vacation and says, "The door to Real Madrid is closed, but it was never open because I have a contract with Milan." Then, very tellingly, "I cannot say I am Rossonero for life because if, in the future, Milan decide to sell me, there is not much I can do."


At the end of that summer, Kaka' gave an interview to Sky I believe, in which he stated, "Milan for life? That depends on Berlusconi."

This coyness and the measured responses showed two things:

1) Kaka' knows how to play the game.
2) He wouldn't exactly slit his wrist at moving to Real Madrid.

World Soccer then interviewed him that same summer, and he deferred to Providence: "I want to stay at Milan. But only God knows my future."

Bosco-->Berlusconi-->and now God.

Kaka' meanwhile began the season in earnest, and in the beginning of 2008 he renewed his contract yet again! He expressed his commitment: "Now I can say, I am Milan for life."

A few weeks later, he confessed that "after Athens I did think of leaving." But wait Kaka', did you not say in the summer of 2007 that it depends on Berlusconi whether to sell you or not? Perhaps he was hinting that only Berlusconi could sign him away; most likely, however, he was hinting that he wanted another pay rise, which he duly received.

Bosco, doubtless thrilled at his own cash cow, slept easy.

We don't make the Champions League in 2008, and Kaka' stays. We buy Ronaldinho. I had a feeling back then that he was brought in to replace Kaka'. And it seems I, and I am sure a few others, have been proven right.

You all are looking at this from January 2009 onwards. Perhaps Milan did make an error of judgement then, but Kaka's entourage are consummate manipulators. The 'entourage' that follows Brazilian players is insidious because it positions the player between his family and his professional life.

This departure was three years in the making. The saddest thing is that Calderon appears to be the most prescient now. In 2007, when the Kaka'-Real affair was at its apex (or nadir depending upon your perspective), he had said, "Sooner or later Kaka' will come to Madrid."