By MIKE GRAMAJO
ORLANDO, Fla. — After making its Major League Soccer dream a reality, Orlando City Soccer Club now has its eyes set on another target, a Designated Player.
Majority owner Flavio Augusto Da Silva hinted on Wednesday that he’s focused on bringing in a top-level DP for the team’s inaugural MLS season in 2015.
“Every team in the world would love to have Kaka,” the Brazilian entrepreneur told reporters on a conference call. “It’s the same with Orlando City but we don’t have anything signed with anyone. We have a plan to (sign) a Brazilian soccer star, internationally well known, and this is our priority.
“If it is Kaka or if it is another (Brazilian star), this our plan.”
Rumors of the AC Milan midfielder playing for the Lions surfaced last summer when head coach Adrian Heath confirmed to WFTV that he would welcome the 2007 World Player of the Year to the club once its move to MLS was guaranteed.
While Florida is known for its large Latino population, Central Florida has been known to have a large Brazilian presence.
It’s also worth noting that Kaka’s contract with Milan ends in 2015.
“Kaka is a great friend of mine, who’s been working closely for two years with my company back in Brazil,” Da Silva told reporters after Tuesday night’s event. “I will travel to Europe to speak a well-known player, and we have a plan to bring an international player to join the team in 2015.”
While Da Silva has promised to deliver an international player, he did confirm that the player will be Brazilian, or a “Brazilian Beckham,” like Da Silva said when he was introduced to the Orlando City ownership group in February of 2013.
“Our team wants to win and compete in 2015, and we’re going to need a big player to get there,” Da Silva said.
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What do you think of these developments? Do you see Kaka joining Orlando City in the future? Would you like to see him in MLS? Do you believe Orlando City can bring in other top players?
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