Kaka remains adamant he has no plans to quit Real Madrid despite reported interest from former club AC Milan and nouveau riche French giants Paris St Germain.
The Brazilian playmaker began the new season with a goal in Madrid’s 6-0 thrashing of Real Zaragoza on Sunday evening after emerging as a 78 minute substitute. His strike was not unlike the Kaka of old as he dribbled his way into the penalty area from the left-flank before shifting the ball onto his right and whipping his finish into the top corner in stunning fashion.
His dazzling cameo was in strak contrast to this time last year when he was recovering from knee surgery while the subsequent 12 months were far from kind to Samba superstar as he has found himself largely a peripheral figure at the Bernabeu under Jose Mourinho.
Part-influenced by the stunningly consistent form of Mesut Ozil and Angel di Maria and also by concern over his own long-term fitness, this summer has been awash with rumours he may leave the Spanish capital. AC Milan continue to be heavily linked, despite Adriano Galliani’s constant denials, while cash-rich PSG reportedly opened informal talks last week.
However, Kaka, who was noticeable leaner on Sunday evening and looked fitter than he has done at any point during his two years at Madrid, insists he is staying put and wants to finally start to justify his €68.5 (Dh365.5m) transfer fee.
He said: “I am very happy with the game. To start the league by winning six goals to zero, and with a goal and assist, is magnificent. As I’ve always said, I want to stay in Madrid.
All that I can say is that reports of my father talking to other clubs are a lie. The coach [Mourinho] said in yesterday’s news conference of how he is counting on me this season, and that gives me peace of mind.
“The team shows it is strong. The performance was good in every way. We played well in the Super Cup and have started the league in the best way possible.However, we will still go slowly and focus on doing things the same way every week.”
Kaka’s goal was just one of several stand-out moments for Mourinho as Los Merengues during their rout Zaragoza at La Rosaleda on Sunday evening. Cristiano Ronaldo also claimed a hat-trick while there was an impressive debut from his Portugal team-mate Fabio Coentrao, deployed out of position in centre-midfield due to an injury to Sami Khedira.
Ronaldo said: “We should congratulate each other because we played well and may leave here happy. I scored my goals thanks to my team-mates. They help me and I help them in turn. That’s how it is. We’re a proper team and we’ll win La Liga playing as such. The team is what matters most. I will try to help with goals, but collective efforts are more important.”
The presence of Coentrao in the team ahead of Lassana Diarra, who last season made 19 starts in La Liga, has increased the possibility of the French international leaving before Wednesday’s transfer deadline.
Diarra, 26, has been pursued by Premier League side Tottenham for much of the summer but last week, with Spurs reported to have agreed on a wage package for the former Arsenal midfield, he performed a U-turn and said he was happy in the Spanish capital.
But having been given the cold shoulder on Sunday – he was not even named among the substitutes – Diarra knows he is no longer of Mourinho’s plans and although he still have two years on his contract it may force him to leave.
Serie A side Roma are the latest to be considering a bid having began tentative negotiations with Diarra’s Real team-mate Fernando Gago as Giallorossi boss Luis Enrique looks to bolster his midfield options following the club’s embarassing Europa League exit to Slavan Bratislava last week.
