Milan star in Ronaldo twist
The new number 7?......Kaka could be the key to Ronaldo saga.
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By SHAUN CUTSIS
Published: 7 June 2008
BRAZILIAN STAR and AC Milan midfielder Ricardo Kaka has emerged unsurprisingly as the player who is the key to the summer's biggest transfer story - the proposed £75 million pound transfer of Portugal ace Cristiano Ronaldo from newly crowned European Champions, Manchester United to Real Madrid.
Following recent developments and conflicting stories from around the world, including statements by the player's mother that Ronaldo is to stay at United, denials by Portugal coach Luis Felipe Scolari that he had encouraged the player to move to Real Madrid, and quotes attributed to the player by Brazillian web site Terra that the player was set on a move to Real, it has emerged that it is Manchester United who have initiated the moves that have left Ronaldo unsure of his future.
Sir Alex Ferguson and chief executive David Gill flew in to Italy last night to discuss a £35 million bid for Brazil attacking midfielder Kaka with the Milan club, whose hand may be forced over their failure to qualify for next season's Champions League, and the player's apparent welcoming of United's interest in him.
United believe that the signing of Kaka and potentially, one of their top striking targets, which include, amongst others, Lyon's French international Karim Benzema, Ajax goal-poacher Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, Sevilla's temperamental Brazillian Luis Fabiano, and want-away Tottenham Hotspur star Dimitar Berbatov will provide a greater balance to the star-studded United team, despite Ronaldo's heroic 42 goals in the recently concluded season.
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To finance the moves for Kaka and a new striker, it was revealed that United's commencement of talks with AC Milan left Ronaldo and his advisors themselves uncertain as to the Portuguese wing wizard's standing in the team. News of United's interest in Kaka reached Ronaldo last week, prompting responses from Ronaldo that "it was not his decision", and he would move to Real if "they paid the amount they are saying to Manchester United". Indeed, while a forward line of Kaka, Ronaldo and a new striker, together with current United front men Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez would provide United with the best strike force in Europe, Ronaldo is seen as the player most likely to be sold, given the current demand for the services of a player currently recognised as the world's best player.
Indeed, should the move for Kaka be successful, United will allow Ronaldo to leave to Real, despite Sir Alex Ferguson's recent comments that Ronaldo would not be moving to Madrid. Ferguson knows that Madrid are interested in his prized asset, and that the player would not be opposed to wearing the white of Los Meringues.
While Ronaldo has banned all talk about his future until after the European Championships in Austria and Switzerland, it appears that his move to Madrid and United's sensational signing of Kaka may reach a conclusion sooner rather than later.
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