The Kaka saga

The Kaka Saga

The last one week has been torturous. I am sure every Rossoneri fan can relate to what I am saying. This particular saga was the highlight of Milan's season so far. I have read several reports during this week in relation to this tale. And due to its importance, not mentioning it here wouldn't be befitting.

The world of football and perhaps the world of sport was on the brink of history, just 48 hours ago. The mega rich Manchester City, in their quest to create the world's greatest team, approached Milan for the services of our superstar playmaker Kaka. One week ago, Kaka was to be future captain of this illustrious club. 24 hours later, there were concrete talks of him wearing a blue jersey with Thomas Cook on it and playing in the Eastlands. Italy started to rumble, and the tremors going throughout Europe, started hitting Asia. The player, deemed as an 'untouchable' suddenly had a price. Over the next couple of days, a lot of principles that AC Milan stood for, started to vanish from the face of this club. The club being a family, Kaka being a club symbol were some of the values that were first to go. Media suggested the club from Manchester had offered 108 million pounds for the player. The previous record fee being accepted was 46 million pounds for Zinedane Zidane. The Frenchman travelled from Turin to Madrid as the result of this transfer in 2001. City are in a similar state as Madrid were back then. The Citizens, Cook and Hughes want to bring about the Galactico's era in England and they chose to start with Kaka, from the four man fantasy shortlist of Messi, Villa, Terry and Kaka.

AC Milan did not hesitate in accepting the offer. Next was the player negotiation. Kaka was certainly emotional at the treatments received at the hands of the club he had so faithfully served for 6 years. He has won everything there is to win with Via Turati outfit, but still cherishes to play here for many a year. He put down some prodigious conditions to agree a deal with City. These included - City to qualify for Champions League in the next 2 years, give him a 20 percent rise in a salary due to non participation in Europe, Sheikh Monsour not to withdraw interest or funding from the club as long as Kaka stays, Ancelloti to be appointed as head coach with immediate effect, 2010 exit clause at 55 million euros and finally Manchester City's continous investment in high grade players. A club with sane mentality would have backed off immediately, but Mr Cook continued to pursue. He probably thought that the knowledge gained from working with Nike could help him land the best trequartista on the planet. How wrong he was! There were also problems relating to player and image rights. Manchester City fans were already celebrating his arrival. And many reports were saying that Kaka transfer to city is imminent and is only a matter of time.

AC Milan have a debt worth 70 million euros. Its trivial compared to the debts that several English clubs are facing, yet they decided on contemplating an offer for their best player. These were several black days for fans all across the world. Fan forums were fuming with rage and abuse. The silence from the management was adding to the apprehensions of the trifosi. Bosco Leite got involved. Who is he? Kaka's father. He was planning on playing the same trick that he had played when Madrid had come knocking for Kaka sometime back. Kaka is Milan's highest paid player with 9 million euros. Ronaldinho comes second with 4 million euros. Not to mention Kaka is second highest paid footballer in the Serie A, after Ibrahimovic. City would make Kaka the highest paid footballer on the planet. 500,000 pounds a week was what was being mentioned in the press. Astronomical figures. Kaka's father was going to have a talk with the Milan management simply stating 'you pay higher, or he leaves.' Berlusconi quickly moved to the media stating that he would have to sell the Brazilian as he can't just raise his wages and not the others'. More so, the club isn't in a financial condition to entertain such requests. Forthwith, Kaka became the villain, and 'I Belong To Money' posters started flashing around. Looking at Milan's delay in decision making, City allegedly offered 271 million euros! Not much later, representatives of City said that they aren't crazy and would not spend such abnormal figures on one player. No disrespect meant,but City recently spent 14 million pounds on Craig Bellamy. Yes him. After the Fiorentina game, where the atmosphere was outstanding, and dedicated to Kaka, people did believe it was the end of the road for the superstar at Milan as he was seen hugging every player on the pitch. Ultras moved immediately. Galliani was the first affected. Protests raged outside the club headquarters and a certain section of the fans moved to Kaka's house and demonstrated their allegiance and love for him. Videos went booming across the net in which Kaka responded to this display of affection by thumping his heart and flaunting the Milan jersey.

At the same time, Berlusconi, Galliani and Bosco Leite had a meeting. It was supposedly about Kaka's wages. At this point of time, Kaka was 24 hours from signing for the City of Manchester. Fan protests dint seem to work. A few hours later, Kaka was still in Milan and Garry Cook and his band of boys were on a flight back to Manchester, enraged. Several players had given their opinion and all of them pointed in the direction of urging Kaka to stay at Milan. Shevchenko, due to his miseries in London, has taken particular credit in influencing Kaka's decision. Berlusconi said that Kaka is 'unsellable' and he will remain a symbol of the club for a long time. Kaka also gave a few interviews about how much love he experienced from everyone and about wanting to stay here for a very long time. He also mentioned that he would never ask for a rise in his wages.

Things will never be the same again though. The relationship between Kaka and the club management has taken a severe blow, and cracks have already begun to appear. Money dint win over the sport this time. But its only inevitable that it will someday. If money could take Milan (being one of the richest clubs in the world) all the way to sell their best player, then anything can happen in the future. A few might argue its good for the game, but I believe that it corrupts the fabric of the sport, distorts the soul of the game and makes it nothing more than an economic entity. Football is what it is because of its fans, the titles, the players, the history and the tradition. None of these elements can be bought per say, excluding players. Does money guarantee success? No, but it certainly propels a club in that direction. Chelsea are trademark examples of this point. It can be argued that Milan could have strengthened their squad with the money received from Kaka's sale, as 4 players had been shortlisted - Adebayor, Essien, Clichy and Alex. But Milan would have lost a lot more. They would have lost fans in South East Asia, they would have run into empty stadiums that could have had a negative impact on the sponsors. They would have crocked the players in the squad. They would have erased the principles that have formed the foundation of this club. No player would ever commit to Milan ever again. AC Milan would have tarnished their image as a global sporting powerhouse and as a club that stands united. AC Milan would never have been AC Milan again. However, for now Football has won over money. For now Kaka is a Rossoneri.