What struggling world economy? Manchester City reportedly offered a record $145 million transfer fee to Italian Serie A team AC Milan for 2007 FIFA World Player of the Year Kaka, but the 26-year-old will be staying put.
Italian Premier and AC Milan president Silvio Berlusconi said Monday that Kaka had rejected City’s offer, which would have made him the best-paid player in football.
“Kaka is staying with Milan,” Berlusconi told a TV show late Monday. “For Kaka, money isn’t everything. … Kaka is and remains with Milan.”
City also issued a statement confirming it had ended negotiations with the Italian club over the transfer. Man City is now one of the world’s richest clubs after its August sale to an Abu Dhabi consortium.
Executive chairman Garry Cook said: “Whilst Manchester City Football Club has an obvious interest in world-class players of the quality of Kaka, we owe it to our fans that such a transfer must work on every level; commercially, financially, in terms of results on the field and within Manchester City’s broader community.”
Cook, along with other members of the City delegation, had meetings with Milan officials and Kaka’s father, Bosco Leite, on Monday. Apparently the transfer was agreed upon and just awaiting Kaka’s signature.
Berlusconi said last week that with the huge amount of money on the table that he could not force Kaka to stay if he wanted to leave. 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.
“It was my intervention but also his,” Berlusconi said Monday. “When I heard he preferred to stay, that he hadn’t thought about losing a chance for a higher salary and that he put the values of the club, friendship and fans affection above all else, I said, ‘Come on,’ and we hugged.”
On Saturday Kaka had played in Milan’s 1-0 win over Fiorentina, with the home fans displaying banners such as “Kaka is Priceless” and “Hands Off Kaka”, and singing “Don’t Sell Kaka”.
AC Milan, current third in Serie A, is next in action Sunday at Bologna – bet on the match at WagerWeb.com. Kaka is second on the team with seven goals.
Soccer Betting at WagerWeb.com
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