An emotional Kaka said he wants to etch his name into the Real Madrid history books as the Brazilian was presented at the Santiago Bernabéu for the first time since his move from AC Milan for a reported €68m fee.
Having arrived in the Spanish capital early on Tuesday morning, the 27-year-old ended a long day by saluting the 40,000 supporters who gathered inside Madrid’s home stadium for the attacker’s unveiling.
“Today is a very special day for me and I’m happy I can begin this new stage of my career with Real Madrid,” Kaka said. “My dream is to have my name go down in the history of this club with victories and trophy successes.”
Kaka was then introduced to the press before finally penning the contract that ties him to the nine-time European Champion Clubs’ Cup winners until 2015.
Fresh from winning the FIFA Confederations Cup with Brazil, Kaka said he is relishing a new challenge in Spain and was not unnerved by the pressure to deliver.
“I feel so much pride being here and although there is great responsibility I look at that not as a negative thing but something very positive,” the 2007 UEFA Club Footballer of the Year explained. “Real Madrid has always been a reference point in the game because of the great footballers that play here and it’s a privilege now to be part of a great team. It’s not just the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo who are here but also Raúl González, Iker Casillas and Guti. I always said that if one day I had to leave Milan it would be to play for Real Madrid.”
Club president Florentino Pérez will now be hoping his new signing – who will wear the No8 shirt – can team up with fellow summer arrivals Ronaldo, Raúl Albiol and coach Manuel Pellegrini to bring a season of domestic and European success.
“Florentino called me up and explained his project and I thought that he was the perfect man to follow through on what he said,” Kaka stated.
Real Madrid will begin the 2009/10 UEFA Champions League in the group stage while the final will be held at the Santiago Bernabéu on 22 May.