City open talks with AC Milan over Kaka

[G]

Torres tells it like it is:-

Liverpool striker Fernando Torres believes Manchester City would not be the correct club for Brazilian star Kaka.

City's billionaire owners have apparently tabled an audacious bid of £108million for the AC Milan playmaker, who is set to receive a reported weekly wage of £500,000 should a deal be reached.

But Torres believes City's lack of silverware in recent years should serve as a warning that success will not necessarily follow on the heels of a record-breaking move to Eastlands.

"Manchester City is not the right team for Kaka," Torres told the Daily Mail.

"Seriously, how can they pay £100million for Kaka?
Fight

"Big players want to win trophies and Manchester City is not even in the race for trophies in England. They are fighting to stay in the Premier League, or to get to the middle of the table.

"They have to build from there and then go against the biggest clubs and after that, maybe, a top player will join them.

"Chelsea were high in the league before they started to sign really big stars. Now everyone wants to play for Chelsea, but they did not when (owner) Roman Abramovich first arrived. They built a strong club and then it happened."

The Spaniard added that the staggering sums of money on offer to Kaka should not be the primary motivation for leaving Serie A.

"For now, I cannot imagine Kaka playing for Manchester City," he continued.

Fantastic

"It would be a fantastic contract, yes, but there are other things more important than money. A player wants to be remembered for what he has won.

"Imagine 10 years after you stop playing, you go back, you look around, you are not in any picture, you have no medals, no trophies; it is like you played for nothing.

"You may have a fantastic car, a fantastic home, but what does it matter?

"You can have a contract that is better than your friends, but no player looks back and says, 'I won more money'."

[Leyton388]

Fantastic by torres that.

[lickedlollipop]

It's ease to say. He'll have a chance when they'll offer a bid for him.

edit: til' then he's red!

[Icon]

Kaka

not going....

That is all - if you care!

[Parm]

oh really, is this confirmed?
I dont blame him, seemed more like he was being railroaded into accepting the move.

[Parm]

from the bbc website

Kaka rejects Manchester City move

Kaka joined AC Milan from Brazilian side Sao Paulo in 2003


AC Milan playmaker Kaka has turned down a lucrative move to Manchester City.

"Kaka is staying at Milan," said a club spokesman, after team owner Silvio Berlusconi told Italian television the 26-year-old had opted not to leave.

City issued a statement saying they had ended talks, believing it was unlikely a deal could be struck with Milan.

"A transfer must work commercially, financially, results on the field and within City's broader community," said executive chairman Garry Cook.

Turning down so much money is something to admire

Milan owner Silvio Berlusconi
"The discussions reached only a preliminary stage and the player was not involved at any time." added Cook, who spent Monday in meetings with Milan officials and Kaka's father and advisor Bosco Leite. "No commercial terms were framed."

City's bid for Kaka was reportedly worth a £100m, more than £50m than the current world transfer fee record Real Madrid paid to Juventus to sign Zinedine Zidane in 2001 and that the Premier League club were willing to pay the Brazilian weekly wages of £500,000.

"That's the end of the story," Berlusconi told Italian television. "I'm truly delighted to have kept Kaka at Milan.


Watch Kaka's wonder goal for Brazil against Argentina
"Kaka is a great champion and a great man. He's refused the offer from Manchester City giving privilege to Milan, his companions and his fans.

"He said it's because money isn't everything in life. Kaka is staying with us and we're delighted. Money is important, but there are also other things that are important.

"The fans are delighted too. Turning down so much money is something to admire."

Earlier hundred of Milan fans had protested outside the club's headquarters over the possible sale of the Brazilian to Manchester City in a £100m transfer.

Fans had also gathered outside Kaka's house and he responded by beating his hand three times on his heart while holding a Milan shirt. RECORD TRANSFERS
£46m Zinedine Zidane (Juventus - Real Madrid), July 2001
£37m Luis Figo (Barcelona - Real Madrid), July 2000
£34m Hernan Jorge Crespo (Parma - Lazio), July 2000
£33m Gianluigi Buffon (Parma - Juventus), July 2001
£32.5m Robinho (Real Madrid - Man City), Aug 2008
£31m Christian Vieri (Lazio - Inter Milan), June 1999
£30.75m Dimitar Berbatov (Tottenham - Manchester United), Aug 2008

On Saturday Kaka had played in Milan's 1-0 win over Fiorentina at the San Siro, with the home fans displaying banners such as "Kaka is Priceless" and "Hands Off Kaka", and singing "Don't Sell Kaka".

After the game England international David Beckham, who is currently on loan at Milan from US club LA Galaxy, had predicted the Brazilian would opt to stay at the San Siro.

"I don't think anybody in the dressing room is thinking about how much money they can earn," said the England international.

"It's about playing with the best team, with the best players in the world and winning trophies, and it's not always about money.

"Riccardo doesn't need my advice. He will decide what he wants to do, but he loves Milan. I don't think he will leave." 606: DEBATE
£100m is just madness, and in a way it is good for football he said no

TFP

Kaka joined Serie A giants Milan from Sao Paulo in 2003 and has since won the Italian league title, Champions League and Club World Cup.

The attacking midfielder has scored 86 goals in 244 appearances for Milan. He has also picked up 62 caps for Brazil and scored 23 goals.

Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, estimated to be worth £15bn, took over as City owner in September 2008 and extensive funds have been made available to City manager Mark Hughes.

So far he has secured the services of Wayne Bridge and Craig Bellamy during the January transfer window.

"It would have been an astonishing coup for City," BBC Radio 5 Live's senior football reporter Ian Dennis.

"But was Kaka ever going to come to City for football reasons?"

Kaka is under contract at the San Siro until 2013, and although he stated last February that he wanted to remain at Milan for the rest of his career, he had hinted at a desire to play in the Premier League - which he has described as the "best championship in the world".

[Parm]

good on him for standing his ground, this move could have been a disaster for football and possibly ended up ruining his career. Good a player as he is would he have coped with all the extra pressure of the tranfer fee?

[joyno]

not going....

That is all - if you care!

i think city knew they had no chance of signing him, but what a scam to put your name on the map,there will nobody in europe and maybe the world of football that will not know who man city are now and that was there problem.

[Joe King]

He is possibly a minority of players who has decided against a move purely based on money and for one, I absolutely applaud him for that. He was already high in my estimation with his humble approach to football and his life outside of football but this has elevated him to another level.

[-V-]

Fair play to him. Personally i would have took the money. Could do so much charity work by taking that kind of money off those eejits

[Reece]

Good man Kaka

They were saying on the radio this morning that Robinho has ****ed off to Brazil (probably not true though).

Anyway, at least they have signed Bellamy. Just the kind of signing the worlds richest club should be making

[Reece]

Robinho quits City training camp
Robinho
The Brazilian forward is British football's record signing

Robinho could be punished by Manchester City after leaving the club's training camp in Tenerife without permission.

City have given no official reason for the Brazilian's departure and are refusing to comment on speculation that he has returned to South America.

But executive chairman Garry Cook told the BBC: "I do know Robinho is not at the training centre in Tenerife.

"If he has left the training ground it is a breach of club discipline. I am waiting for a full debrief."

City smashed the British transfer record when they paid Real Madrid £32.5m for the 24-year-old in August last year.

The Brazilian striker has scored 12 goals for his new club and become a favourite of the club's fans.

More to follow.

[Tee]

It seems money can't buy love. Hughes is now a dead man walking IMO.

A proven high profile Manager at City and players may just look beyond the money and acknowledge the sporting opportunity. Maybe.

[sniffer]

Good man Kaka

They were saying on the radio this morning that Robinho has ****ed off to Brazil (probably not true though).

Anyway, at least they have signed Bellamy. Just the kind of signing the worlds richest club should be making

Agree mate a good move by Kaka

Robinho has left their training camp apparently he and hughes have had an argument, i cant really see sparky staying there much longer as dont think he can cope with the robinho's and other top players the arabs want to sign.

Bellamy tho he has dealt with before so he will be ok with him.

Could have been us. Thanks Mr Moores
No thanks, i would never want us to turn into such a souless club

Don't think we would of been to be honest think rafa would of been able to get more of his plan a's rather than having to settle for plan b most of the time.

[Vermilion]

The fella from City, Cook is it, said live on radio "Milan 'Bottled' it".

Nothing to do with Kaka not wanting to go there.