10 Players Who Probably Regret Joining Real Madrid
1. Kaka
When Florentino Perez was elected president of Real Madrid in 2009, he promised a stream of Galacticos to take the club to the next level, and boy did he deliver. In the space of a week, the world transfer record was smashed twice, and an outlay of 258 million euros was spent, in order to acquire a supersized, super-talented squad. The club shop was hurriedly printing the names of Benzema, Alonso and Ronaldo across a plethora of replica white kits.
However, had Ronaldo not put pen to paper on his lucrative contract that summer, the big paper-spinning story would have concerned Madrids acquisition of the former Fifa Ballon dOr winner for a record 65 million euros. Having been the subject of a £100 million bid from the senseless Manchester City, Kaka vehemently told reporters that his dreams were to grow old at Milan and to one day captain the club.
Due in part to Milans economic crisis, and also the sheer lure of the Spanish giants, Kaka eventually put pen to paper on a six year deal at the Santiago Bernabeu in June. However, what has transpired since has been nothing short of a footballing tragedy. Having moved to the club at 27 years old, the Sao Paolo native should have been at the peak of his powers. Two years prior to his big move, he had almost single-handedly torn apart Manchester United and Liverpool, as the Milanese were crowned champions of Europe. Following Shevchenkos departure in 2006, he relished in becoming the focal point of the attack, before being honoured in 2007 with the highest individual honour this sport can bestow the Ballon dOr.
With 95 goals and 55 assists in his first six year spell at the Italian giants, he formed a reputation as the greatest playmaker in world football. Today, he stands alone, a peripheral figure, left to marvel at what he used to be. Back at Milan on loan last season, he weighed in with seven goals, but compared to his previous exploits, he cut a forlorn and exasperated figure, like a middle-aged man failing to recapture his youth.
His time at Madrid will always be looked upon as the turning point in this formerly great players career. Dominated by a series of injuries and operations, Kaka spent a large portion of his La Liga career in the treatment room. For the second most expensive player in the world, the boardroom were growing increasingly impatient. With the incoming Jose Mourinho having acquiring the outstanding Mesut Ozil, Kaka struggled for game-time when fit, reduced to a bit-part role under the Portuguese manager.
The Brazilian maestro described his tenure in Spain as one of the best parts of my life, even though I passed through some difficult moments. However, if one were to look at the facts, it remains relatively straightforward. In May 2009, he was heralded as one of this generations greatest ever players. At 32 years old, he wasnt even considered for his home nations Brazilian World Cup, and is currently gaining match fitness at old club Sao Paolo, before beginning a new adventure in the football retirement home that is the MLS.