Real close to Kaka signing

Kaka's glittering talents have attracted several wealthy suitors, but Real Madrid expect to announce the Brazilian playmaker as their ?64million signing

MADRID // Kaka's glittering talents have attracted several wealthy suitors, but Real Madrid expect to announce the Brazilian playmaker as their ?64million (Dh334m) signing over the next few days. Kaka, 27, is likely to leave Milan in a five year deal worth ?9m a year after tax to play at the Bernabeu. He will become the first acquisition of new Madrid president Florentino Perez, who has made it clear that Real intend to buy big in an attempt to re-establish themselves as a major power.

"There will be a massive effort to get the best players in the world, because that is the Real Madrid model," said Perez, who only took charge on Monday and is rumoured to be closing in on Cristiano Ronaldo. He has already installed Manuel Pellegrini as the club's coach. In his first term as president Perez was responsible for signing Zinedine Zidane, David Beckham and Luis Figo in what became known as the galactico era.

It boosted Real's profile and profits, but not the anticipated silverware. Perez met with Bosco Leite, Kaka's father who acts as his agent, at his company's headquarters on Tuesday in Madrid. With personal terms agreed, Milan's vice present Adriano Galliani joined negotiations. He had flown from Milan to Madrid on the same private plane as Leite on Tuesday lunchtime. Milan later issued a statement saying: "Galliani is in the city of Madrid exclusively for the investiture dinner of Florentino Perez, the new president of Real Madrid."

Kaka was yesterday training with the Brazil team. [e-mail]