MILAN, Italy – Kaka decided Monday to stay with AC Milan, ending talks over a record-breaking transfer bid from Manchester City reported to be worth about $150 million.
Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi, AC Milan’s owner, returned from Middle East peace talks in Egypt and met for 1 1/2 hours with team vice president Adriano Galliani, then made the announcement on Italian television.
“For Kaka, money isn’t everything,” Berlusconi said in a telephone interview with “Processo di Biscardi.” “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.”
The 26-year-old Brazilian midfielder, FIFA’s player of the year in 2007 after leading AC Milan to the European Champions League title, is under contract with the Italian club through 2013. His actual name is Ricardo Izecson dos Santos Leite.
Earlier, a group of about 500 fans protested outside Milan’s downtown offices, lighting flares and chanting “Don’t sell Kaka!”
Afterward, about 50 fans moved toward Kaka’s home and chanted, “Stay with us, Ricardo,” to which Kaka replied by approaching a window with a Milan jersey in hand and beat his hand three times on his heart, sending the fans into delirium, the ANSA news agency and Gazzetta dello Sport’s Web site reported.
Eventually, a worker at Kaka’s house went outside and asked the fans to quiet down because they were disturbing Kaka’s child. The fans said they would leave if they could see their idol once more. Kaka obliged and approached his window again and the fans left.
Manchester City was bought in August by an Abu Dhabi consortium and is seeking to become one of Europe’s top clubs.
“Following a meeting in Milan today, the club felt that it was unlikely that the two parties could reach common ground for an agreement,” City said. “The discussions reached only a preliminary stage and the player was not involved at any time. No commercial terms were framed.”
That’s so sweet, isn’t it?
How many actually think this way, i wonder.
I don’t normally care about soccer news but his name attracted me to read.
Ho ho ho…
He’s the man! and he’s married.
LOL
I’m busy like a bumble bee!
-_-”
PS : Where’s all the childhood time CNY feel?
PS/PS : I’m so tired. Not enough sleep everyday!
PS/PS/PS : I hate receiving news like this. I pray. That nothing of that sort happens. *PRAY*