It is being reported in the English tabloid press that Kaka is now expected to join Manchester City next week - though more through pressure than preference.

Early editions of Saturday's Daily Mirror claim that Kaka has been "railroaded into accepting the £108 million move."

According to Mirror Sport, the Milan and Brazil playmaker bid an emotional farewell to club coach Carlo Ancelotti when he left training on Friday, and is unlikely to figure in the Rossoneri's Serie A clash with Fiorentina at the San Siro on Saturday night.

It remains to be seen how accurate this report is, but the paper, on its online version, says Kaka's love affair with the Milan club is over, adding that the blow will be softened by a £10m signing-on fee and a £15m-a-year salary. It also says that Kaka’s father and chief adviser, Bosco Leite, will hold talks with City officials in Milan on Monday, but reports claims from the Middle East that Kaka has already agreed to the transfer with Manchester City’s Abu Dhabi-based owners.

Despite the astronomical amounts of money being offered, former World Player of the Year Kaka, 26, is said by Mirror Sport's sources to be unhappy about the move, feeling that he is being pressurised into leaving a team he helped win the Champions League in 2007 for one embroiled in a battle to avoid relegation. City's last major trophy was the 1976 League Cup.

Earlier this week Kaka revealed that he hoped to “grow old” with Milan, to whom he is contracted until 2013.

Mark Hinton, Goal.com

 

Can u believe that greedy bastard? He wants more!

 

The Arabs did it!

 

Kaka has been associated with Manchester City for several months now, but over the past few days the chance of a blockbuster transfer has become more and more possible.

'Arabian Business' yesterday claimed that a deal had been sealed, which would see Manchester City pay Milan around €112 million, with Kaka earning €380,000 per week.

This front page story disappeared from ArabianBusiness.com - Middle East Business, Financial & Industry News, Events & Information around an hour after first appearing, throwing talk of any confirmed move into severe doubt.

However, it seems that the transfer is now highly likely to take place after Milan president Silvio Berlusconi confirmed that he will probably sell the Brazilian.

"I will have to probably sell him," the Italian Prime Minister told La Stampa.

"City have made a really big offer to him, more than €15m after tax per year in wages.

"If I don't sell him then the balance of the team will go up in smoke. I risk losing him without earning anything from the deal. I just need to consider the fans and find a transfer hit...we'll see."

It remains to be seen how Milan fans will react to this news, especially as a large number of supporters took to the streets last night to protest against the transfer.

What is certain though is that Kaka is now highly likely to leave Milan for Manchester City.

Carlo Garganese, Goal.com

 

 

Glad you approve! That was a funny comment in that other thread... ha ha

 

It is the END of football...

 

I actually never thought this could happen. Football is about to go into a crisis soon... as more and more people spend less, revenues will decline, and exposures like these will hit clubs hard!

 

Following one of the most astonishing turnarounds in transfer history, Kaka's move to Manchester City has now officially fallen through.

It was reported on SKY Italia at just past 2230 CET that Milan and Manchester City had agreed a fee, and that a transfer was almost certain, with only Kaka's signature required to complete the deal.

However, in an incredible turnaround, Milan President Silvio Berlusconi stepped in to call off the deal, claiming Kaka is "unsellable" and "will be staying at Milan."

Crunch talks were held this evening in Milan between Bosco Leite - Kaka's father and agent - as well as City chief executive Garry Cook and Milan officials.

There were rumours that Kaka would be announced as a City player in the morning. The 26-year-old was escorted by police from his house this evening, shortly after he was seen holding aloft a Rossoneri shirt and applauding protesting fans.

Berlusconi has now appeared live on SKY Italia and declared: "I am very happy.

"Kaka is not only a great player on the pitch, he is also a very honourable man.

"Not only is money not everything to him, he is happy to stay at Milan with all his friends.

"He is touched with everything he has received from all the fans in Milan who pleaded him to stay.

"Kaka has never held Milan to ransom by trying to up his own contract while considering Manchester City's offer.

"He hasn't asked for an extra penny to stay here - he is a very honourable man.

"What has happened over the last week with Man City proves that money is not everything in football.

"Milan told Kaka about the offer of Man City, just like we did with Sheva [Andriy Shevchenko] about Chelsea.

"The offer Kaka received was substantially more, but he never held Milan to ransom, and chose to stay.

"Me personally, as a football fan, I am very, very happy

"He's very strong spiritually. Underneath his shirt, he wears 'I belong to Jesus' so he's very spiritual.

"He is an extraordinary boy."

Manchester City have just issued their own take on the events, and they claim that it was them, and not Berlusconi, who called off the deal.

Sulmaan Ahmad, Goal.com

 

Hmmm Milan or Manchester (and not even the winning side)... Tough choice. LOL

It would have been entertaining to watch Kaka and Robinho play together on a club team though.