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Man most wanted: Kaka trains with Brazil - Source: Reuters -
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Real Madrid have signed Brazilian midfielder Kaka from AC Milan,
the Primera Liga club said on their website on Tuesday.
The 27-year-old international has agreed to a six-year contract to
become the first player to join Real since Florentino Perez
returned to the presidency this month.
Reports said the transfer fee was around 68 million euros ($NZ152
million) which would make it the second biggest ever after Zinedine
Zidane joined Real from Juventus for around 73 million euros in
2001.
Kaka completed a routine medical earlier on Monday in Recife,
where Brazil face Paraguay at home in a World Cup qualifier on
Wednesday.
Kaka said he was leaving the Italians on good terms.
"Everything I've always done for Milan has been by mutual
agreement, from the moment I arrived until my departure today," he
told a news conference at the Brazil team hotel. "I'm leaving by
the front door."
"I've won everything that I wanted as a player and this is a new
motivation for me."
"I'm sure Real Madrid will build a competitive team which can
start winning titles again."
The official unveiling in Madrid is likely to take place at the
end of the month, after the Confederations Cup in South
Africa.
"We are working on building a good team, an important team, and
this has only just begun," Perez told radio station Onda
Cero.
Milan thanked Kaka for his contribution.
"AC Milan thanks the man Kaka and the champion Kaka for his
decisive contributions to so many victories obtained in the last
six years," the Serie A club said in a statement.
"His loss on the field, though serious, can be filled. It will,
however, be very difficult to fill the void left by Kaka the
man."
Kaka has long been a target for Real Madrid since former president
Ramon Calderon promised to sign him in his election campaign in
2006 but failed to deliver.
Calderon resigned in January paving the way for Perez to come back
three years after he stood down, and he was returned unopposed to
the post.
Spectacular project
Perez has promised to deliver a "spectacular sporting project"
built around the world's greatest players, and local media have
spoken of a 300 million euro war chest which will be used to
finance a second 'Galactico era' at the Bernabeu.
Having lured the likes of Luis Figo, Zinedine Zidane and David
Beckham to Real earlier in the decade, Perez's flagship first
signing on his return was Kaka, a move seen as both a declaration
of intent and a dig at his predecessor.
He has also spoken of interest in Manchester United's Cristiano
Ronaldo, Bayern Munich's Franck Ribery, Liverpool's Xabi Alonso and
Valencia duo David Villa and David Silva.
New coach Manuel Pellegrini is the man tasked with blending these
talents into a team capable of challenging treble-winners
Barcelona.
Kaka will not face much competition in midfield which was one of
Real's weakest areas last season as they lacked flair players
capable of opening up sides in big games.
His arrival will also cheer Real fans clamouring for a more
entertaining brand of football, and who had often chanted "Where is
Kaka?" at player presentations under Calderon over the last couple
of years.
