EXCLUSIVE: Kaka's £100m deal to Manchester City collapses as Robinho storms out of training
By Matt Lawton and Ian Ladyman
Last updated at 10:59 PM on 19th January 2009
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Kaka's £100m transfer to Manchester City collapsed and star striker Robinho walked out of the training camp in Spain as the club were facing a crisis last night.
Kaka's camp were critical of City's negotiating tactics after a meeting broke up with no financial offer placed in front of the AC Milan midfielder.
'We thought they were serious,' one insider said last night. 'However, they acted as if this was just a game. We are sure the owner will not be impressed when he learns of this development.' City denied the claims from Italy.
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Put your shirt on me: Kaka shows his jerseyto fans from the window of his house
Milan immediately declared a victory. Milan owner Silvio Berlusconi said: 'Kaka stays. He has decided that he doesn't want the money of Manchester City. He wants to stay with us here. It is official now that he is staying at Milan.'
The night of embarrassment left City struggling to find Robinho. Earlier in the night he departed their Tenerife base. Frantic phone calls were taking place last night to try and establish the whereabouts of £32.5million British record signing.
Sportsmail understands that the striker has become recently restless at City, although the full reasons behind his sulk are still to be established.
More...Manchester City agree £16m fee to sign De Jong from Hamburg
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Mark Hughes and his coaching believe they convince him to stay, but that appeared uncertain. Chelsea are likely to monitor the situation with growing interest.
Back in England, City were completing the signing of Craig Bellamy from West Ham for an initial fee of £12m.
Talks between Kaka's father, Bosco Leite, City's Executive chairman Garry Cook and Simon Pearson, representing Sheikh Mansour, were under way in Milan.
An earlier meeting involving Milan officials and Kaka's management team was said to have been 'difficult'.
Protest: An AC Milan supporter holds a banner reading 'Kaka is not on sale' last night
A second round of talks were planned for today with City preparing to make their official offer to the player, previously reported to have been worth around £500,000-a-week.
Their approach yesterday, when they failed to talk money with Kaka's father, are said to have 'surprised and disappointed' the Brazilian's negotiating team.
Soon after the meeting broke up, Kaka withdrew from the transfer. It is believed he had spoken to Robinho, but it is not known if the developments are linked.
City will today begin their attempt to pleased with Robinho to return to their training camp, which is meant to have helped with squad harmony.
Earlier, Italian Premier and Milan president Berlusconi returned from a Gaza peace summit in Egypt and held a 90-minute meeting over Kaka with Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani.
A group of about 500 fans protested outside Milan's offices, chanting "Don't sell Kaka." The player was seen last night at a window of his home in downtown Milan, waving a shirt and pounding his chest in an apparent display of loyalty to the Italian club.
Kaka and Robinho have been in daily contact since news of City's incredible £100million offer to AC Milan.
Berlusconi added: "For Kaka money is not everything. It was my intervention but also his that stopped this.
'When it surfaced that he wanted to stay and did not care about the salary and had decided to put the club and its supporters ahead of everything else I said "come on" and we hugged.'
Now Hughes will attempt to appease Robinho by pointing to the rapid progress that is being made by City off the pitch. They are now close to concluding a further £27m worth of transfer business.
West Ham striker Bellamy checked in last night, joining Wayne Bridge in moving to the north-west for £12m in this transfer window, and Hamburg midfielder Nigel de Jong, 24, is also expected to arrive for a cool £15m.
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Tantrum: Robinho will ask for a move with Chelsea one of the leading clubs
Of the Brazilian players City have so far signed, Robinho has actually caused Hughes the least problems. Robinho has for the most part been busy scoring goals — 11 in the Barclays Premier League to date from 16 appearances. At times, Hughes has even asked him to take the captain’s armband.
Now, however, something has caused a major rift that is sure to alert a number of leading clubs, with Chelsea no doubt chief among them.
Luiz Felipe Scolari was convinced the Brazilian international would be joining him at Stamford Bridge last summer and the Chelsea manager regarded him as a key part of his plans.
City may throw midfielder Michael Johnson in to a proposed deal for Newcastle goalkeeper Shay Given. City made an improved offer of £9m over the weekend for the Republic of Ireland international but are still struggling to convince the north-east club to sell.
By Matt Lawton and Ian Ladyman
Last updated at 10:59 PM on 19th January 2009
Comments (0) Add to My Stories
Kaka's £100m transfer to Manchester City collapsed and star striker Robinho walked out of the training camp in Spain as the club were facing a crisis last night.
Kaka's camp were critical of City's negotiating tactics after a meeting broke up with no financial offer placed in front of the AC Milan midfielder.
'We thought they were serious,' one insider said last night. 'However, they acted as if this was just a game. We are sure the owner will not be impressed when he learns of this development.' City denied the claims from Italy.
Scroll down for more
Put your shirt on me: Kaka shows his jerseyto fans from the window of his house
Milan immediately declared a victory. Milan owner Silvio Berlusconi said: 'Kaka stays. He has decided that he doesn't want the money of Manchester City. He wants to stay with us here. It is official now that he is staying at Milan.'
The night of embarrassment left City struggling to find Robinho. Earlier in the night he departed their Tenerife base. Frantic phone calls were taking place last night to try and establish the whereabouts of £32.5million British record signing.
Sportsmail understands that the striker has become recently restless at City, although the full reasons behind his sulk are still to be established.
More...Manchester City agree £16m fee to sign De Jong from Hamburg
City boy Bellamy: £12m Wales striker signs for Man City on four-and-a-half year deal
MANCHESTER CITY FC NEWS FROM ACROSS THE WEB
Mark Hughes and his coaching believe they convince him to stay, but that appeared uncertain. Chelsea are likely to monitor the situation with growing interest.
Back in England, City were completing the signing of Craig Bellamy from West Ham for an initial fee of £12m.
Talks between Kaka's father, Bosco Leite, City's Executive chairman Garry Cook and Simon Pearson, representing Sheikh Mansour, were under way in Milan.
An earlier meeting involving Milan officials and Kaka's management team was said to have been 'difficult'.
Protest: An AC Milan supporter holds a banner reading 'Kaka is not on sale' last night
A second round of talks were planned for today with City preparing to make their official offer to the player, previously reported to have been worth around £500,000-a-week.
Their approach yesterday, when they failed to talk money with Kaka's father, are said to have 'surprised and disappointed' the Brazilian's negotiating team.
Soon after the meeting broke up, Kaka withdrew from the transfer. It is believed he had spoken to Robinho, but it is not known if the developments are linked.
City will today begin their attempt to pleased with Robinho to return to their training camp, which is meant to have helped with squad harmony.
Earlier, Italian Premier and Milan president Berlusconi returned from a Gaza peace summit in Egypt and held a 90-minute meeting over Kaka with Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani.
A group of about 500 fans protested outside Milan's offices, chanting "Don't sell Kaka." The player was seen last night at a window of his home in downtown Milan, waving a shirt and pounding his chest in an apparent display of loyalty to the Italian club.
Kaka and Robinho have been in daily contact since news of City's incredible £100million offer to AC Milan.
Berlusconi added: "For Kaka money is not everything. It was my intervention but also his that stopped this.
'When it surfaced that he wanted to stay and did not care about the salary and had decided to put the club and its supporters ahead of everything else I said "come on" and we hugged.'
Now Hughes will attempt to appease Robinho by pointing to the rapid progress that is being made by City off the pitch. They are now close to concluding a further £27m worth of transfer business.
West Ham striker Bellamy checked in last night, joining Wayne Bridge in moving to the north-west for £12m in this transfer window, and Hamburg midfielder Nigel de Jong, 24, is also expected to arrive for a cool £15m.
Scroll down for more
Tantrum: Robinho will ask for a move with Chelsea one of the leading clubs
Of the Brazilian players City have so far signed, Robinho has actually caused Hughes the least problems. Robinho has for the most part been busy scoring goals — 11 in the Barclays Premier League to date from 16 appearances. At times, Hughes has even asked him to take the captain’s armband.
Now, however, something has caused a major rift that is sure to alert a number of leading clubs, with Chelsea no doubt chief among them.
Luiz Felipe Scolari was convinced the Brazilian international would be joining him at Stamford Bridge last summer and the Chelsea manager regarded him as a key part of his plans.
City may throw midfielder Michael Johnson in to a proposed deal for Newcastle goalkeeper Shay Given. City made an improved offer of £9m over the weekend for the Republic of Ireland international but are still struggling to convince the north-east club to sell.