Former Brazil playmaker Kaka will sign for new Major League Soccer team Orlando City after terminating his contract with AC Milan by mutual consent.
“I’ve always said I wanted to play in the US and now I have reached an agreement to play there,” he told Milan’s TV channel on Monday.
Kaka will initially move on loan to Brazilian side Sao Paulo, where he spent the first two years of his career before being sold to Milan in 2003.
“Orlando City is a new team with a good project and the owner [Flavio Augusto da Silva] is Brazilian,” Kaka added. “I’m also happy to return to Sao Paulo. It’s really satisfying for me.”
Earlier, Milan announced they had terminated Kaka’s contract by mutual agreement.
The 32-year-old had long been tipped to sign for Orlando and, as the TV interview was being broadcast, the US club posted a silhouette on their Twitter feed of him celebrating a goal in their purple-and-white colors.
Though happy to start a new phase in his career, the Brazilian pledged to never again wear the No. 22 on his back that he wore for the Rossoneri.
“I want to leave that memory with the Milan fans. I think I will wear No. 8 for Sao Paulo and No. 10 for Orlando,” he said.
Kaka returned to Milan last year after four injury-hit seasons at Real Madrid. His side finished eighth in Serie A last season and missed out on Europe for the first time since 1998 after a wretched campaign in which they sacked two coaches, Massimiliano Allegri and former player Clarence Seedorf.
Former Milan great Filippo Inzaghi, who played alongside Kaka during the Brazilian’s first spell at the club, has now taken over at the San Siro after impressing as youth team coach.
“Inzaghi and I are friends and I wish him all the best for next season. He loves Milan and therefore he could have a great season,” said Kaka.
His Serie A comeback was viewed as a gamble, but despite picking up a thigh strain in his first match, he had a solid season.
In seven years at Milan he scored 104 goals in 307 appearances, winning a Serie A title, the Champions League and a FIFA Club World Cup.
“It was wonderful for me to return to Milan and reach 300 matches and 100 goals for the club. Everything that I am is because of this club and it wasn’t easy to leave,” said Kaka, who helped Brazil win the World Cup in 2002.
The playmaker missed out on a place in the host nation’s squad for the FIFA World Cup.
“When I was at Madrid I had almost no chance of a Brazil place, but it was different at Milan,” Kaks said. “Last season gave me a lot even if I wasn’t picked in the end. Coming back was important for me, it was a special season for me as a man and the fans have always been by my side. I will be a Milan fan forever.”
Taiwan’s top women’s badminton doubles duo, Hsieh Pei-shan (謝沛珊) and Hung En-tzu (洪恩慈), achieved a straight-sets victory over Japan’s Kaho Osawa and Mayui Tanabe at the Badminton World Federation (BWF) Super 300 Macau Open on Sunday. The Taiwanese pair won the final 21-18, 21-12, marking the duo’s second title this year after their win at the BWF Super 300 Taipei Open in May. The match on Sunday was their first encounter with the Japanese duo, ranked No. 63 in the world. Hsieh and Hung, ranked No. 12, began the opening game well. Hung, who plays left-handed, performed strongly at both the net and the
Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko upset top-seeded Coco Gauff 6-1, 6-4 on Saturday night to reach the National Bank Open quarter-finals. “Your support was incredible,” Mboko told the crowd in French after a chorus of “Ole, Ole, Ole” chants echoed around the venue. “I’m really happy to win today ... It’s incredible. I’m so happy to beat such a great champion.” Gauff dropped to 2-3 since winning the French Open. She followed the major victory with opening losses in Berlin and Wimbledon, then overcame double-fault problems to win two three-set matches in Montreal. Gauff had five double-faults on Saturday after having 23 in
Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen on Thursday said that he is staying with the Red Bull team next year, ending months of speculation over his future. “Some people just like to stir the pot, some people just like to create drama, but, for me, it’s always been quite clear, and also for next year,” the four-time champion said ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix. “I’m discussing with the team already the plans — the things that we want to change for next year, so that means that I’m also staying with the team for next year,” he said. Verstappen has a contract with
Alex Michelsen on Thursday rallied for a 3-6, 7-6 (7/4), 6-4 upset victory over third-seeded Lorenzo Musetti in the men’s singles, converting his seventh match point to reach the fourth round of the Canadian Open. Michelsen reached the last 16 of a Masters 1000 for the first time with his second win over a top-10 player in eight attempts. The 20-year-old American survived nearly 50 unforced errors and converted just two of nine break chances, but it was enough to vanquish Italy’s Musetti, a two-time Grand Slam semi-finalist ranked 10th in the world. “It feels really good,” the 26th-ranked Michelsen said. “I’ve put
RSS