Chelsea deny record 74m Kaka swoop
AC MILAN superstar Kaka will announce his future on Monday, the Italian club said last night, as Chelsea denied trying to gazump Real Madrid with a world record £74m bid.
Milan owner Silvio Berlusconi said he would discuss Kaka’s future with him after the weekend, although the Brazilian is thought to be close to a €65m (£56m) switch to Real, following talks between both clubs and his agent in Madrid on Tuesday.
Chelsea were reported to have made a last-ditch attempt to hijack the deal by offering Milan a world record €85m (£74m) and the playmaker a salary of £10m a year after tax, but the club released a statement refuting the claims.
Berlusconi said: “On Monday you will all know the decision that has been taken. And to add, we will talk when we have a definite decision.
“At the moment there is no decision. On Monday I will meet with Kaka, and then we shall see. Putting aside the great friendship with Kaka, the negotiations are in the hands of Kaka’s father who also acts as his agent – he is the one who will decide.”
Carlo Ancelotti, who this week swapped the AC Milan manager’s job for the Chelsea hotseat, was said to have made a personal plea to Kaka on Tuesday to follow him as Real closed in on the transfer. That followed reports that Blues owner Roman Abramovich had held informal talks with Kaka’s camp last week.
But, responding to reports of a £74m bid, Chelsea said last night: “We have never made an offer to AC Milan for Kaka and therefore not one at this extraordinary level. As a consequence, we have not discussed a salary with the player either. Any reports to the contrary are totally untrue.”
Abramovich has been linked with a move for Kaka in the past, but never before have Milan seemed so ready to sell. Manchester City had a £100m offer accepted in January, only for the 27-year-old to reject the switch.
Failure to avert Kaka’s move to Real is likely to see Chelsea switch their attention to Bayern Munich and France winger Franck Ribery.
They are also thought to be interested in AC Milan’s 19-year-old striker Alexandre Pato, who may also be sold to raise funds for rebuilding.