Its Official: Kaka Finally Moves to Real Madrid

This evening, the rumors were confirmed as Kaka will play football next season at the Bernabeau, signing a six year deal with Real Madrid. The transfer will cost Real €65 million, the second most expensive transaction in history after Zinedine Zidane’s transfer in 2001. Many of us would have loved to see Kaka finish his career in Milan, but the return of Florentino Perez as president of Real changed all of that.

For AC Milan, which lost €70 million last year, this presents an opportunity to rebuild and upgrade an aging squad. Real Madrid, after stumbling through the Ramon Calderon era and marred by overpaying for the above average player, this is a return to the Galactico era and a return to the prestige that made them the world’s elite club. Although the cost was steep, Real has bagged one of the world’s three best players.

For Kaka, the pressure will be immense to perform and stay fit. A second place finish for Real is still in the works unless the club addresses its gaping hole in its central defense. This pressure is something a world class champion like Kaka will undoubtedly meet. I don’t think Kaka could have gone wrong whatever way he chose. At the very minimum, at least Marcelo will have a compatriot in the first team. I would love to hear some comments about whether you believe this was the right or wrong move.