KAKA: WHY I SNUBBED MARK HUGHES

Brazilian star wanted to join a club with history and ambition

TWO GOOD - Robinho celebrates with Brazilian team-mate Kaka

MADRID BOSS IN THREAT TO END THE PREM

Florentino Perez dreams of a European Super League instead

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From AIDAN MAGEE in Johannesburg, 27/06/2009

KAKA has told Manchester City they were never a big enough club to tempt him to the Premier League - and it will be years before they can challenge for honours.

The Brazilian superstar was the subject of a massive bid from the Eastands club in January. But he chose to see out the season at AC Milan and then moved to Real Madrid in a record-breaking £60million deal.

Kaka has spent the last two weeks with sulky City star Robinho as part of the Brazil squad at the Confederations Cup in South Africa - where they will play the USA in today's final.

And he explained that City would have needed a more illustrious history and safer long-term financial backing to attract him to England.

Kaka said: "I was very flattered by Manchester City's interest in January but it is just a project at the moment. And with projects sometimes you don't know how long the investment will be there for.

"Lots of smaller clubs have periods of spending big money. But suddenly the investment stops when the owner decides to do something else. Or sometimes it stops because of other reasons like a failing economy.

"Things can be great one moment and not so great the next moment. The organisation can collapse like a pack of playing cards. I felt the time was right for a change and Real Madrid is the club for me.

FLORENTINO PEREZ - commitment

"It is not about a difference of quality between La Liga and the Premier League. Real will always be a big club. Nobody can take away their history and their nine European Cups."

Kaka, 27, insists he will never regret his decision to join Real after the return of president Florentino Perez, who brought in the Galacticos era of David Beckham, Zinedine Zidane, Luis Figo and Robinho. He will be joined at the Bernabeu next season by World Player of the Year Cristiano Ronaldo.

And Kaka believes Perez's commitment to bringing the cream of the world's talent to Madrid will put his new club back among Europe's elite.

The Brazilian explained: "Florentino has his aim and his way to invest. It is not something negative for football, but positive. The Barcelona president, Joan Laporta, has criticised us but they are very strong. The way Real can be a competitive team again is to have an ambitious plan like Florentino's.

"I know I made the correct choice going to Real. To be alongside players who can decide a match on their own is very important and Cristiano can do that."

LET'S DANCE - Stephen Ireland (right) with Manchester City team-mate Robinho

Since managing to secure Robinho for £30m in a dramatic final day of transfer activity last August, City have struggled to tempt more world-class names to Eastlands despite being linked with superstar players from all over Europe and beyond.

They have signed good quality Premier League players but need another huge name to give the Abu Dhabi Group's rebuilding a further push.

The club's failure to achieve Champions League football last season - or even a UEFA Cup place - has also stunted their ability to sign massive names.

However, midfielder Stephen Ireland believes manager Mark Hughes has finally conquered Robinho's rebellious streak. Kaka's Brazilian team-mate looked lazy in most of City's games after refusing to buy into Hughes' philosophy of hard work on and off the ball.

But Ireland claims Robinho and his Brazilian pal Elano were brought to book by the end of the campaign. And he was delighted to see the pair speeding past him to help out on the defensive work they used to avoid in the past.

Threat

Ireland said: "You can see how everyone has adapted to what the gaffer wants. Elano and Robinho's work-rate is phenomenal now. At the end of the season they were running past me and I was thinking 'wow'. I was really impressed with them."

Even so, both players could be off in the summer with Robinho being chased by Barcelona and Elano keen on a move to Inter Milan.

Kaka, meanwhile, believes England will be a major threat to Brazil reclaiming the World Cup in South Africa next summer. He said: "They had problems in the past but now they look good under Fabio Capello.

"I have played against many of their players. They are having no problems in the qualifying section and they will be around to challenge us here next summer. I think Spain, France and Italy will also have a good chance next year."

Your comments

This article has 50 comments

i would like to know how Real have made their history? all the legendas i know that have played there are either controversial transfers or they have paid big money for the players!!!!!!

By muhammad riaz.. Posted July 5 2009 at 8:58 AM.

KAKA, with due respect, you can talk of history but definitely not ambition. I don't think Real Madrid is more ambitious than Manchester City because the former have won everything while the latter have won nothing.
GOODLUCK KAKA.

By Nkem Onwuka.. Posted June 29 2009 at 6:07 AM.

daragh queally - I dont really know what I tink :)

By andy head.. Posted June 29 2009 at 12:50 AM.

i dont tink da city can compete for d prem for at least 5 years.....dey need to buy st least a few class players dey need a centre back like puyol, rio ferninand, terry, vidic someone like dese players leadership demanding
also dey need a world class centre mid like fabragas, gerrard lampard, xavi, inesta a class playmaker cause i tink barry isnt what dey need
a top class finisher robinho jus isnt someone like etoo, villa, rooney, vanistlerooy in his prime, torres someone that can finish under pressure

let me no what you tink

By daragh queally.. Posted June 29 2009 at 12:41 AM.

Why are you fans of other clubs SO bothered about City,If were successful great if we fail so be it,its not like we dont know failure and we still followed city in our thousands and we allways will,Thats what being a supporter of a club is all about,So all you lot having hissey fits over City get a life really.....CTID

By andy head.. Posted June 29 2009 at 12:17 AM.

city are trying to do what blackburn did
BUY THE PREMIER LEAGUE TITLE
but oh look
blackburn r a spent/skint force now

By andy.. Posted June 28 2009 at 11:36 PM.

These bitters rolling out the same old untied fans not from manchester etc.

To all you deluded bitters go down Heaton Park on a Saturday or Sunday this summer united shirts out number blue 50/1.

Even your new ground is built in a red area.

I'm born and live in manc (Crumpsal now Middleton) and have never been out numbered by blues wether it be school or work.

1878 lads the first Manchester club and yes the tory's changed the borough in the 70's to fiddle the vote etc. M16 ????

FACT city started in gorton before ardwick and gorton did not become a part of Manchester to the early 1900's.

City in their history have never had higher attendances than united.

The top 5 attaendance at maine road were when city were not playing (2 when united were)

ps

Ricky Hatton (PLASTIC MANC)was born in stockport and grew up in hattersley both not in Manchester.

Huddersfield,Burnley,Bolton,Wolves PNE have far more history than city.

Your levels of delussion never cease to amaze me!

Won FA since Elivis die city is their name..........

By LIAR BUSTER.. Posted June 28 2009 at 11:11 PM.

The reason that most United fans do not live in Manchester is that if they did Manchester would have a population of roughly 100 million

By Dave.. Posted June 28 2009 at 11:06 PM.

How on earth can you say arsenal dont have history hmmm let me think how many teams have never been relegated in there entire history ???? while arsenal night not have the best trophy record what they have done for the moddern game is unreal wenger changed the face of football in england

By mike.. Posted June 28 2009 at 7:27 PM.

City fans keeps wining about basic facts being slapped right on their face. admit it boys city jus aint the club for superstarts yet. n wud neva be... as for u fans murmuring about real madrid n kaka, look back in ur dirty collar and see what's making your sorry asses talk so much, bloody take over by the arabs, ur talking on their basis... arent u.. what if they crash out nd opt for alternative plans like it usually happens....
like it or not , city cant be with the likes of man united n real madrid . forget the top 4 spot for another 10 years, as far as my vision allows me to peek... ur going nowhere to be a bigger club then wat u are already a mediocre club :)
bring on what ever u want.... u need team building n that smell of trophy hunting desire, which you fans will never get to experience unless the skys and land changes position :)

adious..
MANCHESETER UNITED FOREVERRRRRRRRRRRRR !!!!!!

By danish rahman.. Posted June 28 2009 at 6:44 PM.

Just a quick stat for Alex who clearly knows nothing about support. Average attendance at OT in the second division???? 48,389!!!!! How many glory hunters were around in 74/75????. Change the record and accept that you will never, ever, be as big a club as United. (how an by the way, Law's goal did not put us down)

By Ian.. Posted June 28 2009 at 5:42 PM.

Last year there were 3 players who were undoubtedly the best in the world.....now there is only one left....Lionel Messi

By Tobi.. Posted June 28 2009 at 5:31 PM.

Well, kaka has done his time playn for small clubs... Real Madrid is the best club for him at the moment.. Man city dont think straight.. They should have bought a few experienced legs though tired like Adriano, Requelme, Mohamad abuterika, mohamad zidane to get things started and attract new players

By Samson Mbewe.. Posted June 28 2009 at 5:13 PM.

One would have thought Kaka would have forgotten all about Manchester City by now. I wonder what is really bugging him.

By Pete.. Posted June 28 2009 at 5:12 PM.

Lot of jealous rags posting comments on here.
Firstly aa-10 yes there is 20 teams in the league at any 1 time but more than 20 teams have played in the premiership do your maths.
You say city have no history then go on to say chelsea and arsenal have???clearly don't know your football.
So here's a stat for you 98-99 32000 fans for a 3rd tier game with blackpool. Do ou remeber dennis law's majestical backheel that sent the rags down look at the drop in attendance at old trafford.

CITY = Loyal fans, local support, better atmosphere
UNITED = Glory hunters, Prawn sandwich specialists, should be renamed Trafford United as your not even Manchester based like 95% of our fans

By alex.. Posted June 28 2009 at 4:09 PM.

i love how you are saying that the best player in world couldn't handle it in your self-acclaimed 'best league in the world'! Face the truth - your premiership isn't as good as you think, thus the mass exodus to Spain of the best players. All the English clubs are trying to buy success, but money doesn't but you prestige, history or a world-wide fanbase i'm afraid.

Spain 1 England 0

By pete hallion.. Posted June 28 2009 at 1:43 PM.

kaka can you play for manchester city because they are goood with robiniho.

By Abdul.. Posted June 28 2009 at 1:13 PM.

Typical, UNITED fans are all the same. At least we have loyal supporters. Half of ur so called 'fans' either live in china or down south. The rest of your 'fans' have only supported you since they stopped supporting liverpool, arsenal or chelsea. THIS IS OUR CITY LADS dont let anyone forget that. As for ronaldo leaving thats just gonna cause another million fans goin back 2 support chelsea... again. Do us a favor and tell us what it felt like when city beat u on that beautiful munich day rememberence last season. BEST DAY OF MY LIFE. you may have been playing for matt buzby an the boys. but we played for our goal keeper who was also on that flight. Again u can laugh now but soon we're gonna be twice the team that salford city reds could ever b. GIVE IT UP FOR TEVEZ.

By GõBõRñ.. Posted June 28 2009 at 12:40 PM.

Spot on. A club like ManC does not deserve Kaka, even though he may come to the Premier League and not play well at all.

ManC is a mediocre club that just ran into some cash. Kaka is not the kind of player who would want to cash into some easy money. He wants to win silverware and play European cup football - both which will not be possible at ManC for the next 5 years.

By SS.. Posted June 28 2009 at 12:11 PM.

LMFAO @ city fans!

u guys just carry on bringing the comedy!

for all those just joining us, the debate so far involves city fans telling us about their amazing history & future world dominance.... oh, and how daft kaka was to chose Real Madrid over them!

HAHAHAHAHAAAA

Sunday morning comedy at its best!

best thing is that the interweb spreads these HaHa moments across the world in seconds so ppl abroad can laugh @ city too!

By KakasRight.. Posted June 28 2009 at 11:25 AM.

Kaka is only saying what his new employers are only too glad to hear, and also is indulging in some self consolation over his stupid decision to give City a bye. And as others have commented, Kaka might not be so hot in the high speed Premiership anyway; he was totally outshone by Everton's frenetic Pienaar in the S Africa v Brazil game the other night.

By Jayman.. Posted June 28 2009 at 10:55 AM.

pete? Huddersfield, Preston and Wolves had a better history than MUFC until the 90's??? Typical bitter, making things up. 7 league titles and a European Cup going into the 90's proves my point. Manchester City 2 titles and 0 European Cup. Move into the 21st Century and it is MUFC 18 titles and 3 European Cups. MCFC still 2 and 0.

By mark.. Posted June 28 2009 at 10:51 AM.

Kaka chooses Real rather than City and thats a slap in the face.
Ronaldo chooses Real rather than United and THAT'S good business.
Funny, that.

By bertie bee.. Posted June 28 2009 at 10:47 AM.

loool, quite simple. Kaka made the right decision. Let me ask you, Real Madrid or Manchester City? yeh thats what i thought.

By Ryan... Posted June 28 2009 at 10:41 AM.

funny these clowns who think city dont have a history....huddersfield, wolves, preston etc all had a better history than man utd until the 90s so clearly the moneybags prem league is when football started according to the ill informed. these people dont understand football an never will. kaka and the galacticos will win nothing.

By pete.. Posted June 28 2009 at 10:02 AM.

Who cares. He chose the easy option and hasn't got the bottle to handle the prem. Then again why should he choose to get carted up and down the pitch every week as all the skillful players do in the prem. He will have a much less physical time in La Liga and be able to play until he is 35 and then move to Italy and play until he is 40.

By L Nicholson.. Posted June 28 2009 at 9:45 AM.

I won't deny Real have more 'history' in terms of trophies. However, Kaka, like some of the muppets posting here, are blind to City's history. Of course those plastic fans beleive football started with the Premier League in '94..... ignorant and arrogant.
As for the future....financially City are far more stable than Real. If ADUG pulled the plug on us tomorrow, we would still be debt free....if the Spanish government and royal family did the same on Real, they would be in the mire.....
And talking of MASSIVE debt.....how's manyoo's £800m mortgage repayments going? If the current financial climate gets any worse, you want to hope that the owners of your ground and debt, MBNA Bank don't call the Glazer's debts in....people in glass houses etc...

CTID. 33 Years, and we're still here...
I

By Husker Blu.. Posted June 28 2009 at 9:39 AM.

It's amazing how many supports think football started with the invention of the premiership and the champions league.

Which is why the threat City pose (evident by all the jealous comments) is really starting to rattle all the 'big 4' and there supports.

Love it.

World domination is merely a few years away.

Slim

By Slim.. Posted June 28 2009 at 9:32 AM.

MCFC are going to gate crash the top 4 not next but perhaps the one after this is a fact. It will only be a matter of time before united become the shadow of city, and Kaka? In time he will look back with envy and ask "If Only"

By Bluepurgatory.. Posted June 28 2009 at 9:28 AM.

stop talkin wet kaka, why dont you jst forget about city now sick of u drummin on about us! in 3 years time we will be competing for honours and won't hav to throw stupid money at ppl they'll just want to play for us...and on the other hand what is fergie playin at 30 million berbatov but turns his nose up at tevez at 25.5 million???? and valencia is not a world beater...no better than shauny wright..who i mite add could be warmin r bench!ha ha

By jay the blue.. Posted June 28 2009 at 9:21 AM.

Kaka's right, what great player in there right mind would want to play for City?
If you had the option of the greats like Man U, Real, Barca, AC, Inter why bother with a small club like city who a turning into a bit of a joke.
Says a lot about a club when they have to cut prices fir a major game, the biggest in years, just to fill it.
As jim Royal would say, "big club... my arse"

By Dave Manchester.. Posted June 28 2009 at 9:18 AM.

2 years from now and Madrid will be in massive financial problems....

wouldnt surprise me if Perez gets the famous White snot rags....... especially when Ronaldo throws his tantrums...

get used to it in la Liga...............

By Steve.. Posted June 28 2009 at 9:14 AM.

City have no history, they may have a future but it won't be Champions League. City are only a few years removed from what is now League One. If you even make it to the top four that will be great for you , but dream on , Real are the real deal and City are mickey mouse . Kaka is much smarter than bobo Tevez or barca surplus Eto or Real flop Robino.

By Karl.. Posted June 28 2009 at 8:44 AM.

"The organisation can collapse like a stack of playing cards" "Failing economy" "Long term financial backing"
Well Mr Kaka I am sure you will feel a lot safer at Madrid when Mr Perez has to sell off the stadium to finance his ego..........
City are the only TOP FLIGHT club in Europe that are NOT in debt and have a LONG TERM plan ....

Watch this space...............

By Steve.. Posted June 28 2009 at 8:24 AM.

history is exactly that, history. I could walk into a team full of superstars and win the CL. It takes balls and courage to join the likes of City and help them become champions of europe. Any player with the mindset, having the CL handed to them on plate in team full of superstars, don't want them

By citizenbloo.. Posted June 28 2009 at 8:11 AM.

Real Madrid is just a name. City will destroy you kaka god squad wankjob

Roflz

By Tom.. Posted June 28 2009 at 4:35 AM.

Get in Kaka you got it spot on with the" smaller" clubs comment,but they will have you think different coz obviously they are"Massive" The clowns get more deluded they will always live in UNITEDS shadows.

By Bri The Red.. Posted June 28 2009 at 3:57 AM.

we'll by real, we'll burn it down,we'll real,an we'll burn it down forget kaka, we are getting tevez, somebody who works to get the ball not jus wait around.

By darren flanagan.. Posted June 28 2009 at 3:24 AM.

kaka might be world class but why do u think he didn't come to the prem,because he cant handle the fast play of the prem league, he jus took the easy way out because italy and spain are nothing capared to england.

By darren flanagan.. Posted June 28 2009 at 3:19 AM.

I think city have a more secure financial future than madrid. How long can the Spanish government and banks keep bankrolling general Franco's team.

If the Galacticos don't win the CL this season chances are city will win it before them.

As for the league, that's barcelonas again. Barca have a manager while MADRID HAVE A PUPPET

By jim.. Posted June 28 2009 at 2:43 AM.

Can't really argue with Kaka. He went for the bigger club, just like Ronaldo.

By Hardy.. Posted June 28 2009 at 1:20 AM.

well john ur the 8th biggest sucessful side but theres only 20 in the league, that stat says your an average prem team almost, 10 being average. Also you havnt one a major honour in 33 years, THATS ALMOST HALF A CENTURY! JESUS IF THATS NOT RECENT HISTORY I DONT KNOW WHAT IS, ITS MORE THAN RECENT! SO in relation to history city arrnt great, like madrid, arsenal, man utd, liverpool, barca, milan and chelsea even in last 6 years. italians ac milan etc etc etc great too.

By aa-10.. Posted June 28 2009 at 12:48 AM.

Real Madrid founded 1902.
Manchester City founded 1880. So much for the history of the clubs.

Kaka just took the easy option. A bit more money, a bit more sun and won't have to do too much on the pitch.

By Dave.. Posted June 28 2009 at 12:15 AM.

some people live only in the past,history can be made in the future,

By john mcniff.. Posted June 27 2009 at 11:55 PM.

Kaka is a rolls royce player, but should have gone to city to test himself in the prem. City will win the european cup before Real will win one.

By kel.. Posted June 28 2009 at 12:04 AM.

Que?
Billy Meredith, Bert Trautmann and Colin Bell.
How's that for starters?

By Spudgun.. Posted June 28 2009 at 12:08 AM.

what a joker bottled it, looked rubbish in brazils last game outshone by pienar

eto coming to city check mundo deportivo news.

By anton .. Posted June 27 2009 at 11:31 PM.

he obviously has the name kaka,through talking so much of it

By john mcniff.. Posted June 27 2009 at 11:16 PM.

surprised if kaki, could have thought of that by himself

By john mcniff.. Posted June 27 2009 at 11:20 PM.

So Aidan Magee I take it you think Manchester City are a club with no history as the statements from Kaka mention nothing about City's history. Let's put something straight, City are the 8th most sucesfull English side of all time and have average gates of 44,000+ every week despite not wining a majour honour for 33 years. So I think you need to go back to the drawing board after your riducules side title "Brazilian star wanted to join a club with history and ambition". Oh and City have no ambition?, they are proberly the most ambitious club in world football today... Tool.

By Joe.. Posted June 27 2009 at 11:22 PM.

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