Kaka: 'I was loved at Milan'

By Football Italia staff

Ricky Kaka looked back over his career highs and lows, both of them at Milan, trouble with Jose Mourinho and realising it was time to quit.

The Brazilian spoke to UOL about his career, which saw him have two different spells at San Siro.

“In 2009 I accepted the proposal from Real Madrid, but after that move I was completely destroyed, because I couldn’t replicate what I’d done for Milan,” confessed Kaka.

“I was totally lost. In Italy, everyone had loved me, but in Spain they all wanted me to just leave. Plus Jose Mourinho was a difficult Coach for me to work with. When I thought he might give me a chance, it never happened.

“I didn’t get the chance to prove my form to him. I trained hard, fought and prayed so much, but without the Coach having faith in me, I realised I couldn’t work with him.

“I was so happy after leaving Real Madrid and returning to Milan, especially after Mourinho said I was one of the most professional players he had ever worked with.

“The worst defeat of my career, bar none, was the Champions League Final Milan lost to Liverpool. It was one of the toughest nights, and yet also the one I learned the most from. I learned that I would never have control over defeat and victory.

“That team was one of the best in Rossoneri history, one of the greatest defences ever, and yet conceded three goals in six minutes.”

The 3-0 lead was fumbled in a six-minute period in Istanbul and eventually Liverpool won the trophy on a penalty shoot-out.

Kaka finished off his career in America with Orlando City, but reveals the precise moment he decided to quit – and Milan were involved again in November 2017.

“I went to watch a Real Madrid game against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League, then Milan play at San Siro, where I stepped on to the pitch to salute the crowd. The fans chanted my name and I was so emotional. I realised that I was where I wanted to be: with them in the stands, cheering on and watching the game.

“So I decided not to play anymore. In future I could work with Sao Paulo, but I don’t want to be a Coach, nor a TV commentator.”

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