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Leonard Lim
Sports Reporter
Is Kaka's "no" really that big a deal?
January 20, 2009 Tuesday, 07:56 PM
Leonard Lim wonders if Kaka's refusal to the Man City offer is that big a deal.
WE ALL know money talks. But in the world of football, what counts at the end of a truly passionate footballer's career are trophies. Kaka's decision to turn down a quadrupling of his weekly wages to 500,000 pounds is earning praise from all quarters. Good on you, Kaka, for showing the sheikhs over at Man City that they cannot just buy any player they want with their unbelievable wealth. It was a clear show of loyalty, some AC Milan officials said, as the Brazilian thumbed his nose at the chance to be the planet's best-paid footballer.
But dig just a little deeper and maybe, just maybe, it was not just about loyalty and money. Where is Man City in the English Premier League? Four points off the relegation zone, with no chance this season of qualifying for the European competitions. What would Kaka have done if the likes of Real Madrid, Barcelona, Chelsea, or Manchester United had come knocking? The promise of riches and the lure of Champions League football every season, I think, would have been hard to resist. Being part of any of those pedigreed teams would be a great privilege. It's a big difference playing week-in week-out with stars like Chelsea's Frank Lampard and Barcelona's Thierry Henry, compared to a Michael Johnson or Stephen Ireland from Man City. Sure, Man City has Robinho. But a team like Real is chock full of brand names that boast skill levels far higher than all the Man City players (bar Robinho). Challenging for the Spanish Primera Liga, EPL crown, and Champions League every season is what every top footballer wants, and there are only a few teams that can offer Kaka that. But, Man City isn't quite one of those (not yet!) - no matter how much money their sheikhs throw on the table. The millions of pounds might buy some fancy houses, private planes and yachts, but it certainly won't buy Kaka the silverware that will ensure he is remembered as one of the best footballers of his time. Now, who wants to wager if Kaka will decide to move if one of the elite European clubs makes a similar offer? Tags: football, sports 
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What Kaka did was simply pure loyalty and at the same time logic. Yes it was a lot of money, but lets face it Man City is like 14th/15th in the preimer league come on. Kaka is the symbol of AC Milan. So many fans protested for the possible move, image what would have happen if it would have taken place. Kaka's act shows that there are still people in this world that have moral, ethics and loyalty.
I think tt if Kaka really accepts the offer, the whole transfer market of the soccer world will be disrupted. So it's a great sign of relief tt he rejected the offer n remained at AC Milan. Not only so, it oso reminded the Man City tycoons tt it's not money tt can do everything. Not everyone in tis world is a rational-economic man. Some pple like Kaka, I believe, aren't going to be easily influenced by money alone. Ya. I guess tis oso serves as a very strong reminder to those rich pple ard not to use money to bully pple... Ya. :P
Kaka -or Milan AC- I'm not sure proved to the whole world that this game is not all about money.What counts are love and passionate in the first place.Money doesn't make great teams.It may build a good team,but not a great one.Look back at the history you will find that great teams were made by lots of work and effort and not great deal of money.
Agreed Hudaa. I think Kaka's track record of refusing to flirt with other clubs, no matter how prestigious they are, or how much money is being offered, speaks for itself.
The fact that there are players out there who would jump at any opportunity to increase their salary doesn't mean there is a need to be cynical about this whole affair.
Every player is different. Not everyone is a mercenary.
Big clubs had made their offer b4.It may not be as crazy as what the sheikh offered but clubs like Real Madrid has been on the Kaka trail since 2006. And never once did he said yes...or even considering it.His answer has always been the same..'as long as the club wants me here..I'll be here'. He could jump ship way back when Sheva left for Chelsea and the whole Calciopoli scandal but he stays on..won the Champions League ,FIFA Club World Cup,Golden Ball,FIFA World Player of the Year with Milan..
It is about loyalty..
Kaka knows AC Milan is different from other elite clubs in Europe.This is the team that retires numbers for its loyal players. A team that welcomes back a player who turned his back on them. A team that doesn't get rid of its old players in spite of their fitness problems because of what they mean to the team...Kaka knows of Milan's rich history and wants to be part of it.. to be remembered as a player who rejected a hundred million pound and remain loyal to his beloved club.
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