Former Real Madrid man Kaka has insisted he was not a failure at the Santiago Bernabeu.
When fans and pundits alike look back at his time in the Spanish capital, they often conclude that the Brazilian didn’t reach the heights he did during his first stint at AC Milan, when he was crowned World Player of the Year on one occasion.
The 32-year-old has just completed loan switch to Sao Paolo from Orlando City. He signed from the MLS side from AC Milan and will return when they start the season in 2015.
Speaking to Esporte Espectacular, Kaka said he didn’t feel any regrets over his decision to join Real Madrid and considers his four years at the club a success.
He stated: “My time at Real Madrid was not a failure. I played 120 games, scored 28 goals and played an average of 30 games a season. I also won three trophies, the League, Copa del Rey and Supercopa.”
The former Brazil international also thanked former Los Blancos boss Jose Mourinho for giving him the opportunity to play for the club.
“He was a person who helped me grow, to be patient, to fight and respect the decisions of the coach,” Kaka stated. And he continued: “I learned to respect that figure, their decisions and do everything in my power to make him see that I could play.”
Was it expensive games he played at Real? YES
Was he a failure at Real? NO
He played a new and different role than what he was used to at Milan. In Milan he had a team build around him, at Real he was part of a team that wasn’t build to cater him.
I am really glad he got the opportunity to play for Real, at least I always thought highly of him and he must certainly fit the quality bar set by Perez.
Was the timing right for signing him? Maybe not, I think he would have been a great player for real had he arrived one season earlier, maybe instead of Van der Vaart. But instead he came to Real in a season where I feel the hype was all about Ronaldo, I think Kaka would have benefitted from that hype in 08/09.