New Delhi: It was all settled: Kaka was joining Manchester City. Then AC Milan President Silvio Berlusconi stepped in at the last minute, and incredibly called off the deal.
Following one of the most astonishing turnarounds in transfer history, Kaka's move to Manchester City has now officially fallen through.
It was reported on SKY Italia at just past 2230 CET that Milan and Manchester City had agreed a fee, and that a transfer was almost certain, with only Kaka's signature required to complete the deal.
However, in an incredible turnaround, Milan President Silvio Berlusconi stepped in to call off the deal, claiming Kaka is "unsellable" and "will be staying at Milan."
Crunch talks were held this evening in Milan between Bosco Leite - Kaka's father and agent - as well as City chief executive Garry Cook and Milan officials.
There were rumours that Kaka would be announced as a City player in the morning. The 26-year-old was escorted by police from his house this evening, shortly after he was seen holding aloft a Rossoneri shirt and applauding protesting fans.
Berlusconi has now appeared live on SKY Italia and declared: "I am very happy."
"Kaka is not only a great player on the pitch, he is also a very honourable man. Not only is money not everything to him, he is happy to stay at Milan with all his friends. He is touched with everything he has received from all the fans in Milan who pleaded him to stay," said Berlusconi.
"Kaka has never held Milan to ransom by trying to up his own contract while considering Manchester City's offer. He hasn't asked for an extra penny to stay here - he is a very honourable man. What has happened over the last week with Man City proves that money is not everything in football."
"Milan told Kaka about the offer of Man City, just like we did with Sheva (Andriy Shevchenko) about Chelsea. The offer Kaka received was substantially more, but he never held Milan to ransom, and chose to stay. Me personally, as a football fan, I am very, very happy. He's very strong spiritually. Underneath his shirt, he wears 'I belong to Jesus' so he's very spiritual. He is an extraordinary boy."
Manchester City have just issued their own take on the events, and they claim that it was them, and not Berlusconi, who called off the deal.
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