City open Kaka talks

Blues travel to Milan to begin discussions

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City open Kaka talks

Kaka: City talks

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Manchester City have opened talks with AC Milan over the possibility of bringing Kaka to the Premier League, Sky Sports News understands.

Sky Sports News chief news reporter Bryan Swanson has learned that City executive director Garry Cook travelled to Italy to begin preliminary discussions with officials from the Italian outfit.

The potential blockbuster transfer remains at a very early stage and no bid has been lodged, with Cook keen to test Milan's resolve to retain the services of the talented playmaker.

Club owner Silvio Berlusconi described the Brazil international as 'untransferable' earlier on Tuesday but City are yet to be put off.

A website owned by Berlusconi is reporting that City have offered 100 million euros (£91m million) for the 26-year-old playmaker.

"This time they (Manchester City) are here for real with an official delegation," said the report on the mediaset website.

"Manchester City want Kaka at all costs and they have shown their cards. Garry Cook, two representatives of Sheik Mansour and Kia Joorabchian, who is acting as a mediator, met with Adriano Galliani and Ernesto Bronzetti (Milan's chief executive and commercial director) and made their offer."

But Berlusconi says he is in the dark about any bid.

"I know nothing about the offer, but I hope he stays at Milan," he said.

City's owners the Abu Dhabi United Group proved they have the financial muscle by signing Robinho from Real Madrid in the summer in a £32.5million deal.

And they are now keen to bring the forward's compatriot to Eastlands to give manager Mark Hughes' squad real superstar quality.

Kaka admitted to Swanson in a November interview that playing in the Premier League was an ambition he hoped to realise at some stage in his playing career.

But with City currently battling to avoid relegation to the Championship, it remains to be seen if one of the most gifted players on the planet will be prepared to make the move, regardless of the riches on offer.

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Comments (89)

Jim Davison says...

I'm a Man City fan, born and bred Mancunian now living in Spain. What the majority of posters on here have missed is that this is not Man City money, its arab money, and if the arabs do get fed up and walk away City will just be a debt free club, not like our nieghbours with a massive debt. All of the players on massive wages will be sold, allbeit cheaply but that money will go into Man Citys coffers, meaning we'll have money and be debt free, for City and the best fans in the world it'll be a no lose win win situation, so bring it on, lose the jealousy and enjoy your own teams!!!!!! Jim Davison Costa Calida Spain.

Posted 14:32 19th January 2009

Fikile Mharo (liverpool fan) says...

It's business, Kaka has already signed for Man City, they dragging this saga thru the media to get maximum publicity. (announcing to we have arrived sit up and take notice). 1. It makes business sense. 100mill get a the a great ambassador for the club. 2. Great looking player and 3. He just happens to be the best in the world too. City is buying the Kaka squeaky clean image the brand that will sell in the east. 4. The Kaka name will attract other big names to the club too 5. It will attract the best players to their academy too the new owners have stated that they will still focus on the academy to grow good players. 6. Mark Hughes, he has got to step up to the plate. The best team need the best keeper, the best defence and best holding midfielders. Real learned this lesson the hard way.

Posted 14:28 19th January 2009

John Buckley says...

Football has gone absolutely crazy ,and whos gonna be the losers in the end......the fans will all be priced out of the game....rip premiership...

Posted 14:15 19th January 2009

Jack Graham says...

Obviously Man City are relishing the prospect of a player of Kaka's calibre, and there is no doubt that he will become a key member of their squad. However, I don't agree with the Man City owners methods. The obvious example to compare this to is Chelsea's phase of buying players when Roman first took ownership. Chelsea bought wisely instead of just picking out the best players from the best teams and putting in ridiculous offers for them which it looks like City are doing. It isn't as simple as "buying success" in the space of a few weeks' transfer market and I think that what the City owners are doing is naive.

Posted 13:25 19th January 2009

David Chapman (Southampton fan) says...

Firstly as a Southampton fan I'd be a hypocrite to say I didn't want a rich invester as were in debt and heading for league 1 but City are RUINING football, how do my team have a chance of even getting in the PL with the money being spent on billionaires dream teams. However all these City fans saying it was Chelsea who started this is stupid, sure they overpaid for players but lets not forget AC milan legend Shevchenko was their all time biggest signing at a quarter of whats being quoted for Kaka! Lets all hope Kaka turns out the same way.

Posted 13:01 19th January 2009

Sunil Naidu says...

City fans seem to be more bitter than the rest of them here.Yes the "big 4" have spent more money than the rest on most occassions,but City seem to be changing that with this ONE signing,they are ready to pay more than what the club costed.That is why it is obscene.Suddenly chelsea look better,they were ready to pay a few million more than what any other club was ready to offer,but the money that is being talked about here is just insane,but i dont blame city fans,most of them would not have even seen pictures of a city player with any trophies,I don't think Kaka has to answer anyone here,if he did move everyone would know why.And yes chelsea though were up there but could never go upto the level of actually challenging teams to win cups and that's where the money helped them and in all ways they did buy their success .But city are no-where close to that,all that they have been doing is being jealous of their Glorious neighbours,I hope they do sign Kaka though, they will need someone who can get them back into the Premier League.Because they can't buy a PL spot with all money they have.

Posted 04:56 19th January 2009

Sean Fagan says...

I cant wait to see kaka in a city shirt! First Robinho now him, it still feels like a dream! i dont understand people moaning about the massive amount of cash being injected into city. i doubt there is a football fan out there who would say no to that kind of muny being available spend at there club. just jealousy really??

Posted 03:20 19th January 2009

Daniel Shortall (man utd fan) says...

City are another chelsea' so much money has been put into the club and now they have trouble working as a team. Its like they've never played together before. Man city will bring in these players and they will all need to gel wich will be hard. Building a succesful team is from the youth upwards and playing as a team not a one man show (robinho)

Posted 23:37 18th January 2009

Mark Stevens (Arsenal fan) says...

It's gonna be brilliant when they get Kaka and he ends up being another Veron/Shevva, I can just see it happening. I think this may be a big mistake in the long run, for many reasons, not just the money side of things.

Posted 23:01 18th January 2009

Kate Carpenter says...

I think that the money is astronomical and that City have looked at developing their status as a football club and gaining worldwide recognition and interest. Us local supporters have our issues with transfers such as these and the detrimental effect it could have on the City youngsters, but fans in Asia are interested in the premier league brand and seeing the best footballers. I'm not saying City will recoup this outlay very quickly but I think the idea is to develop the brand and a cross continental fan base. Kaka, Ronaldo, Messi, Ronaldinho are all recognised faces from outer Mongolia to the inner Hebrides and I think that this purchase attempt is not something done on a whim like a rich child in a toy store choosing at will what he wants to buy. Kaka will play well for City but no player can justify that kind of money, although a team with this type of talent will gain a following from abroad without question. I think that these guys mean business and as a blue I'm really happy that we are ready to challenge though I don't want us to be recognised as a club like Real who pride themselves in identifying top targets then making blatent attempts to unsettle and push through a transfer. I hope that we don't offer silly money for Torres and Ronaldo as we are recognised as a great club with one of the most loyal and patient fanbases so we can build steadily and intelligently. The dilemma though is the want for immediate improvement. Lets make Kaka, Robinho and Ireland the fulcrum of the team and let them develop a system that works. We've lost a lot of games this season by the odd goal and I think with a couple of additions we will be top 6!

Posted 17:38 18th January 2009

James Routledge says...

Im a leeds fan and know how all the man city fans will be feeling right now. I also know that as soon as Sheikh leaves there wont be a manchester city left unless someone even richer buys. This will happen because he will leave and especially if you buy kaka you will be left with players you can not afford to pay their wages. Then you will sell them for one quarter if not less of what you bought them form and slowly do what my team did and sink down the leagues.

Posted 16:20 18th January 2009

Paul Jenkin (Manchester City fan) says...

Firstly, I've been a Man City fan since 1967/68 season. Isn't it hilarous that, for once in City's history, they have some serious cash to spend and a manager who looks like he actually has a game plan and some clue what to do with it and and yet all and sundry (fans of all the other premiership teams, so-called 'experts' like your TV pundits, former players from other clubs with no link to City, team mates of players who City are supposedly chasing) are all suddenly experts and entitled to criticise City? In my opinion, everyone should concentrate on their own clubs and keep their half-baked, ill-informed, jealous, mealy-mouthed, unwarranted, unwanted, usually factually incorrect, pathetic and just downright ignorant opinions and speculations to themselves. I watched some of the soccer coverage on Sky yesterday and was appalled at the comments made by your panel. No-one I know gives a stuff about what has-beens like Paul Merson and Charlie Nicholas say and Phil Thompson....please! They might have been half-decent footballers but they can barely string a sentence together. Also, if they we such great visionaries and motivators, why aren't they managing top clubs? By the way, can someone please tell Charlie Nicholas that he looks a pillock with ear-rings in. And all this bull about City's money ruining the game. The game's already 'ruined' by the cash sloshing about since the setting up of the Premiership. Which team would refuse the money that ADUG is bringing to City? None of them. Are players coming to City for the money? Of course they are. Be honest, that's all they go to any club for. Here's hoping City DON'T sign Kaka or any prima-donnas) but they do sign some quality players who can bolster the defence and midfield so we can (a) survive in the Premiership this season and (b) make a serious assault on the Premiership in coming seasons.

Posted 11:01 18th January 2009

Richard Parry (Manchester City fan) says...

As a City fan I want success but still look back with rose tinted glasses as Man City were the last ALL ENGLISH team to win the English League. Think about that 'big four'. It might be the case that we now need foreigners to stitch you up, but we have the best Youth team in the country and we shall definitely cause a few upsets i.e. 6 pointers or have MUFC already forgotten that.

Posted 10:32 18th January 2009

Kane Longshank says...

I cannot believe what ridiculous comments are being written about city's bid for Kaka. Every single premiership manager and fan would do the same thing if they had city's money, so please put the morality and jealously to one side. The big four have always out bid the other premiership teams and now they don't like it because city have more money than anyone. Ferdinand was a world record fee for a defender previous highest before that deal £9m Utd paid £28m over 3 times the record fee so what really is the problem now ......JEALOUSY!!!

Posted 20:21 17th January 2009

Ryan Corless says...

Christian De Rossi, some sense at last, I know Utd and City are rivals, but this will make Manchester the city for football. And to those who say buying stars won't work, we're not only buying stars... We're linked with proven domestic players like Bellamy and Parker, not Messi and Eto'o. It just so happens an 'availability' for Kaka was spotted and we're trying to take advantage of it.

Posted 18:46 17th January 2009

Mitch Price (Wolverhampton Wanderers fan) says...

its a shame that we will never see robinho and kaka grace the champs league in their prime again

Posted 10:05 17th January 2009

Christian De rossi says...

As a Manchester United supporter i am excited to see who City buy, this will make our clashes even better as the whole world will watch. City's new stars will make the Manchester derby the best in the world. It will make Manchester the best place for football and it will dominate London and the likes of Merseyside, Milan etc. Look out everyone - Manchester is coming!

Posted 22:05 16th January 2009

Lee Cook says...

very interesting to see this story develope. i am a United fan and cannot wait to see the likes of Kaka embrace the premiership, the manchester derby will have its rightful place as the biggest derby in english football with world class stars on both teams. However financial I would be wary if i was a city fan, as we have seen with the current financial climate, organisations spending vast amount of cash come with very high risks. This is illustrated in Abramovich's declining interest in Chelsea football club. This has meant that Chelsea have to become self sufficent by 2010 and is why they have not spent big for the past season or so. inevitability should be a word lodged into the minds of city fans. Even though I wish them every success, aslong as its not to the detriment of worlds best team, Man utd!

Posted 20:12 16th January 2009

Fergus Kennedy (Kidderminster Harriers fan) says...

Here's how it will happen. City will spend an absolute fortune on all these great players. They won't gel as a team because the most important investment, in their youth system will not be a priority. The rich owner will only want to see star names playing and while they may win the odd cup competition they will be nothing more than overpriced, overpaid primadonnas. Manager after manager will fall because how could you not win everything with all the best players? The owners will only come to the big games and then they will stop coming altogether. City will be left with an aged team with the owner tired of being asked for £100 million for every half decent player going. Then they will sell and the natural order will be restored. 7 maybe 8 years. I have to laugh at the Leeds fan turned City supporter. What ever happened to the war of the roses? That wasn't Leeds versus Manchester United you know.

Posted 14:33 16th January 2009

Joe Dimambro (Aston Villa fan) says...

Big money that City have behind them does not always result in top four finishes as proven where city are in the table. I think the value of Kaka is ridiculous and that they are proposing to pay him £600K a week. Theres supposed to be a credit crunch but it doesn't seem that way at City. The problem is that all the lower clubs are being wiped out of the transfer system because they cannot compete in bidding for top players due to the lack of funds. As proven at Aston Villa they have not spent massive amounts and they sit in fourth position! I think a brilliant acadamy system at Villa has helped with their success and Martin O'Neil has got the best out of his players. City are not going to get in the top four just by signing a few big names.

Posted 13:34 16th January 2009

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