The agent of former Brazil international Kaka has claimed that the midfielder rejected a move to Manchester City back in 2009 before he moved to Real Madrid.
Kaka was with Milan at the time, having been with the club for six years after arriving from his native Brazil in 2003.
He played 307 times for the Serie A club scoring 104 goals, but financial restrictions meant that the club decided to cash in on the player.
At the time, City were looking for a landmark signing and made a massive offer for the midfielder, but the player’s wishes meant that a transfer to the Etihad Stadium never happened.
“If it was up to Milan, they would've accepted the €100m (£88m) offer from Manchester City, but Kaka absolutely refused to move,” his agent, Gaetano Paolillo, told Milannews (via the Daily Mail).
Kaka eventually moved to Real Madrid, where he spent four years, but, according to Paolillo, the player didn’t push for that transfer either.
“Every year, Real Madrid would ask if Kaka was available, but Milan had always considered him off the market and he wanted to stay too. That was the plan, anyway.,” he added.
“After his last game with Milan in Florence in 2009, he left for international duty and only took a rucksack. He said we'd meet back at the Malpensa Airport in a month, but Milan sold Ricky (Kaka's nickname) to Real Madrid when he was in Brazil.
“He never wanted to leave, and the money he earned at Real Madrid wasn't the issue. He was loved by the fans and more than happy at Milan, but the club put him on the market and at that point, Real Madrid was a good option. It wasn't Galliani's call either, he loved Ricky.”
Kaka re-joined Milan after his four-year stint at the Bernabeu. He announced his retirement in 2017 after a three-year spell with MLS side Orlando City.
