*All times CAT (GMT+2)

Football | Spain

Kaka left in cold after transfer deadline



Kaka's Real Madrid future looked bleak on Friday after a possible move in the January transfer window failed to materialise and coach Jose Mourinho again omitted the Brazil playmaker from his squad.

The 2007 World Player of the Year, who cost Real around €65 million when they bought him from AC Milan in 2009, will not even be on the bench for Saturday's La Liga game at Granada.

The 30-year-old Kaka was an unused substitute in Wednesday's King's Cup semifinal first leg draw at home to Barcelona and has only been in Mourinho's starting 11 once in La Liga, twice in the Champions League and once in the Cup this season.

The club said on their website (www.realmadrid.com) that all Mourinho's first-team players, including Kaka, had trained normally on Friday except for Cristiano Ronaldo and Mesut Ozil who worked in the gym.

Some media reports suggested Kaka might return to Milan in January and the honorary president of the Serie A club, former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, said he was optimistic a deal could be done.

However, no agreement was reached before the window closed at midnight (2300 GMT) on Thursday and Kaka's reported salary of 10 million euros a season represents a significant impediment to any move.

His stint at Real has been disrupted by a number of injuries and when he has played he has only shown flashes of his former brilliance.

Mourinho, who joined Real from Milan's city rivals Inter at the end of the 2009-10 campaign, has generally preferred Germany playmaker Ozil to the Brazilian and the Spanish champions also signed Croatia midfielder Luka Modric in the close season.

Shop

Gerrard: My Autobiography
Steven Gerrard is a hero to millions, not only as the inspirational captain of Liverpool FC, but as a key member of the England team.
R118.00
Red: My autobiography
No player has been more synonymous with the glory years of Manchester United Football Club over the past two decades than right-back Gary Neville.
R195.00
The Professor: Arsene Wenger
Idealistic, passionate and scientific, Arsene Wenger led the modernisation of English football
R138.00
FIFA 13
All-new Attacking Intelligence infuses players with the most sophisticated artificial intelligence ever achieved
R564.95


Comments

More expert analysis and opinion from Sport24
The opinions expressed by Sport24 experts and bloggers are theirs alone, and do not necessarily represent those of SuperSport

Sports Talk



Dr Errol Sweeney
Why are referees explaining their decisions?
Match officials make mistakes because they are like you and me - human. However, in modern...

John Dykes
A day for sentiment, stats and hard cash
The title may have been won weeks ago and the relegation issues settled seven days back but there...

Emeka Enyadike
Beckham, most popular football star
Is David Beckham the most famous football player ever? I tweeted from my @EmekaEnyadike handle and...

Segun Odegbami
Dortmund may surprise favourites
I cannot disguise my interest in Barcelona. I never hide my love for their style of play that is...

Calvin Emeka Onwuka
Not this time Arsenal
The league title is with Robin van Persie and his Manchester United teammates. Man City have...

Neil Tovey
Khune top of the class
Kaizer Chiefs are on the verge of clinching their first league title since 2005. One man’s name is...