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Orlando City Notes: Kaka nearly signed for RBNY; envisions MLS as a top league; and more

KakaOrlandoCityAirport1 (AP)

By MIKE GRAMAJO

Orlando City Soccer Club made history on Monday with the signing of their first Designated Player, Kaka — but had things worked out differently in the past, Orlando City SC may never had gotten their hands on the Brazilian midfielder.

Kaka spoke to reporters around the nation on Wednesday during a teleconference call, admitting that he came very close in the past to joining the New York Red Bulls and later LA Galaxy before deciding the timing wasn’t right.

“I spoke about two years ago, when I was with Real Madrid, with the New York Red Bulls,” said Kaka, who signed a guaranteed contract through 2017, according to the Orlando Sentinel. “I came real close to the door, but with all that happened between both parties we couldn’t come to an agreement. After that, I came close to finalizing a deal in Los Angeles, but I choose to go to Milan because I felt I can play with joy and possibly earn a World Cup spot with Brazil.”

The 32-year old revealed that interest in joining Orlando City began in 2012 when majority owner Flavio Augusto da Silva expressed interest in buying the club.

Here are more notes from Kaka’s conference call: 

KAKA WANTS LEAGUE TO BE TOP FIVE IN THE WORLD

While plenty of pundits still consider MLS to be a “retirement league,” Kaka said that he still has plenty to give on the field.

Kaka is coming to the league with plenty of years under his belt but also plenty to go, and admitted as well that he could have remained with Milan for another year or even gone to play permanently back home in Brazil. However, he was convinced by the “project” at Orlando City and the chance to become a star in the USA.

“I think it’s the right moment for me because I’m not too old and not too young, but I have the experience to come and to give a lot of things to the league,” said Kaka. “This is the right moment to come to MLS. I think the league is getting better every year, increasing a lot. MLS has a great, great future in soccer, so this is my vision for American football. This Orlando City project is serious and I have to be part of this project.”

Kaka admitted as well that he isn’t very familiar with the league and its players, aside from some of the current and past Designated Players such as David Beckham and David Villa. However, Kaka is taking advice from his brother, former Red Bulls defender Digao, and others so that he is up to date on his MLS trivia come January.

“I can say that I’m studying the league. My brother (Digao) played in the league, and I have a lot of friends playing at the moment. I think it’s the moment when I start to play and understand on the field why and how I can get everything that I can to help the league, and improve my football too. My expectation is that soccer is gonna be the (top) sport in America.”

JOINING ORLANDO FROM MILAN AT LAST MINUTE

Even while transfer rumors were circulating across the globe for the last few months, Kaka waited until the very last moment to make up his mind.

The veteran midfielder was at a crossroads, and told reporters that he had three options: remain with AC Milan, move to MLS, or return home to Brazil. In the end, he decided that the chance to play with Orlando City was too big to turn down.

“I decided to come to America because of this serious project that I think is very good and for this vision about the American league that I think is getting better every year,” Kaka said. “Until the end, I thought about this because I had one more year on my contract with Milan and I had to wait six months until (Orlando City) start play in MLS.

“These six months were a problem but in the end we found a solution and I’m going to play in Brazil for Sao Paulo. It was difficult to leave Milan, the team that I played for seven years, the team that helped me arrive to top level as a soccer player, but I made the right decision to come to America.”

MONEY NOT AN ISSUE FOR KAKA

When a player such as Kaka signs with MLS, it’s assumed that money played a big role in the signing.

While it’s assumed that as a Designated Player, he’ll be receiving a nice salary, Kaka revealed that he actually took less money to come to Orlando instead of taking other, bigger offers.

“They’re (Orlando) paying me good, but I had another opportunities to earn more than they’re paying me here,” said Kaka. “My decision is not about money, but I had a lot of opportunities to earn what I get now. I always think about long-term projects. I stayed in Milan for seven years, I stayed in Madrid for four years, I played at Sao Paulo for 13 years, so I hope I can stay in Orlando for a long while.”

OTHER NEWS AND NOTES

  • When asked about a potential derby between Orlando and Miami in MLS someday, Kaka said “I think it will be phenomenal.”
  • On the possibility of playing on turf fields for the first time, Kaka said that he had no problem with it and he would learn to play on them.
  • On the chance of Kaka’s former AC Milan and Brazil teammate Robinho coming to MLS, Kaka said he wouldn’t be surprised if a team would offer him a contract to play in the league.
  • When asked about any future signings to add to the team, OCSC president Flavio Augusto da Silva said that the club have other signings in mind but “at the right time, we’re going to talk and we’re going to announce new signings.”
  • Kaka conducted the entire teleconference in four languages: His native Portuguese, Italian and Spanish, and then English, of which he has a strong command.

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What do you think of these notes? Excited to see a talented player spurn the Red Bulls and Los Angeles to move to Orlando? Do you agree with his statements about the future of the league?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. His brother sucked about $400k out of RBNY to log a total of five minutes (!), all in the hope of luring him to play in front of Harrison’s Brazilian contingent. I realize that this article is a puff piece and that Kaka’s English is not very strong, but to advertise such little knowledge of the MLS strikes me as downright insulting. Five minutes on the internet and you can spout off a few quips about anything at all. Well let me tell you Mr. Kaka, the league emphasizes speed and strength over possession and skill. Keep an eye out for the next two-footed tackle or you will soon join Carlos Valderrama on the footnotes list of famous alumni.

    Reply
    • Valderrama played in MLS for years, and is one of the best this league has ever seen. What you are trying to say with your statement? That Kaka will become an MLS legend?

      Reply
    • Yeah I gotta brother who’s disappointing too… tell ya what he’ll never make it at Macclesfield Town.

      Reply
  2. Agreed on the last comment. Playing the beutiful game on turf is travesty and it must end!

    Are you listening, Sounders, Timbers, Revs? Get rid of that monstrocity, put real grass! No excuses!

    Reply
    • I sort of understand Sounders not being on real grass. They play in an NFL stadium and those guys just absolutely EAT turf for a living. No way to make that a realistic dual use stadium due to the recovery time the turf would need to recover from 300+lb NFL guys ripping it to shreds.

      The Revs – well – are just the red headed step child of the Patriots so you’ll never get Kraft to binge on a stadium IN Boston with natural grass. Just won’t happen.

      Portland – on the other hand – should hire someone from Ireland/ Scotland/ England who could prepare the turf every week. They’re only argument is that it’s too “wet.” Well, hire someone who has the experience to do it and DO IT.

      Reply
  3. *facepalm* This turf thing has to end. I’m sure a little piece of Kaka died inside when someone asked him about the possibility of playing on turf. I love that he’s here MLS, but these world class players should NOT be on turf.

    Reply
  4. Great. Just great. That’s all I needed to hear, how close he came to signing with the Red Bulls. I could still imagine how crazy Red Bull Arena could have gotten with that huge Brazilian population just a short walk away in the Newark Ironbound. Oh well.

    Reply
  5. I’m can’t believe wondo miss that cheap shot, why………. Why…….. Wondo sucks, I asked for green and johansson vs Belgium, why not kilnsi
    Now galaxy go get ronaldinho and make USA a number 10 that we desperately need please. Ronaldinho come now and teach an American player how a number 10 is suppose to play and kilnsi we need fowards and wingers. Argentina is gonna get burn by Belgium, too much speed and force.

    Reply
  6. Biggest revelation from this is he came to MLS for less money. That’s a big thing. MLS wouldn’t be able to continue to compete for players if they needed to pay premiums (see Dempsey & Bradley) on players. Getting guys at or below market value is a strong sign for the future of the league.

    Reply
  7. Come on guys, 32 years old is too old. I mean, look at Donovan. Look at Jones. Look at Beasley. Look at Ryan Giggs.

    Forget him.

    Reply
    • Look a Pirlo, look at Xavi, look at Zlatan. Age doesn’t matter if the player still has decent health and top level quality. Kaka has both… My only question is who’s the better signing, David Villa or Kaka?

      Reply
  8. “MLS has a great, great future in soccer, so this is my vision for American football.”

    Try parsing that statement…

    Reply
  9. Perfect signing… class act player and team. Looking forward to my first Orlando City season tickets! Go CITY!

    Reply

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