“Kakà resta al Milan.” Silvio Berlusconi Tells the World that Ricky Said No to City

Ricardo Kakà said no to Manchester City.

Incredibly, and it is important to note that AC Milan accepted the transfer request for a little less than 130 million euros according to La Gazzetta dello Sport, but the player ultimately had the final say.

Kakà resta al Milan”. Così il premier Silvio Berlusconi ha dichiarato intervenendo telefonicamente alla trasmissione Il processo di Biscardi. “Per Kakà i soldi non sono tutto. Lui resta con noi, ci sono cose che sono più importanti dei soldi:siamo felici”… “Avevamo offerto al giocatore la possibilità di prendere in considerazione l’offerta e farsi un patriomonio consistente, ma lui ha valori più alti”… E’ stato lui a togliersi dal mercato con questa sua decisione di restare legato al contratto che ha con il Milan. Un contratto firmato su una carta da bollo ma da ora in avanti possiamo ben dire firmato sul sentimento, firmato con il cuore”.

“Kakà will remain at Milan. The Italian Premier, Silvio Berlusconi, declared by telephone, and then added:

For Kakà money wasn’t everything. He is staying with us, there are some things more important than money: we are very happy…

We had offered the player the possibility to take into consideration the offer and to make himself financially secure for life, but he has much higher values.

It was he who took himself off of the market with this decision to remain tied to his contract with Milan. A contract signed on a notarized document, but now looking ahead, we can say it was signed based on feelings, signed by his heart.”

Kakà Writes His Milan Legacy

Earlier in the day, Garry Cook of Manchester City met with Bosco Leite, Kakà‘s father and agent. But apparently, contractual terms could not be agreed. Or perhaps as Signor Berlusconi stated, the honor and commitment of Kakà to Milan went much further than pounds or euros.

“Alla fine ha contato la mia storia, dove sono legato e dove è in realtà il mio cuore. Tutti i messaggi che mi arrivavano – dice a Milan Channel – mi dicevano di scegliere con il cuore. E io così ho fatto. Non è una stata una scelta economica.”

“In the end, my history counted, where I am tied and where in reality is my heart. All of the messages that arrived (from supporters), he told the Milan Channel, told me to choose with my heart. And I did. It was not an economic choice.”

Source: La Gazzetta dello Sport, 19 January 2009.

Italian translation by Steve Amoia.

Outside of Paolo Maldini, no player will endear himself more to the Rossoneri faithful.

Steve Amoia writes the World Football Commentaries blog. He has written for AC Cugini Scuola Calcio, Football Media, Keeper Skool, and Soccerlens.