It’s beem a poorly kept secret that former World Player of the Year Kaka would be playing in Major League Soccer next season. The big unknown was what would the Brazilian do between now and the start of preseason training by Orlando next season?
Well according to reports out of Brazil, Kaká will opt out of his contract with AC Milan at the end of the month will officially become Orlando’s first designated player on July 1.
Then he will go on loan with his home club in Brazil, São Paulo, through the end of 2014, before retiring for preseason training
The 32-year-old attacking midfielder is a household name and will bring in the casual fan both in Orlando and across MLS to watch the World Cup winner play.
But MLS is not getting the former Ballon d’Or winner. They are getting an aging player who has failed to consistently play well since leaving AC Milan for Real Madrid in 2009 for a transfer fee of 65 million Euro – what was then the second-highest transfer fee of all time.
Without that burst of speed that made him the world’s best player, Kaka isa still technically gifted player, but it will be interesting to see how he adapts to MLS where he will be given a lot less time on the ball that he got in Italy or Spain.
The subplot of the Kaka signing is the battle between the two expansion teams, New York City and Orlando City, who both begin play next season. NYC FC have already signed household names David Silva and Frank Lampard while Orlando have Kaka. Both teams are expected to use their full allocation of three designated players next season and it will be fascinating to see who else they sign.
What do you think of Orlando signing Kaka? Is it a good signing or not?