MADRID, Spain – Real Madrid confirmed the signing of Brazil star Kaka on Monday in the first step in club president Florentino Perez’ plan to return the Spanish side to the glory days of its “galactico” era.
While Real Madrid did not disclose financial details of Kaka’s switch from AC Milan, reports say the figure is in the region of euro65 million ($92 million), eclipsing the largest previous transfer set by Zinedine Zidane when he joined Madrid from Juventus for $65 million in 2001.
Kaka, 27, training with the national team in Brazil ahead of the next round of World Cup qualifiers, said the finalization of the six-year contract marked the end of a “soap opera” that will usher in a new phase of his career in Spain.
“Now the soap opera is over,” Kaka told a media conference after a practice ahead of Wednesday’s Brazil-Paraguay qualifier in the northeastern coastal city of Recife. “The only leftover details were the medical exams, and I’ve done them. The negotiations are closed and I have sealed my transfer to Real Madrid.”
Kaka passed a medical in Recife earlier Monday.
“Kaka is one of the players that every team would like to have and Madrid had the chance to get him,” Perez told Spanish radio station Onda Cero just before the signing was announced. (AP)