Kaka quotes pour cold water on City's ardour

Quoted on the website of Mediaset, a TV company owned by Milan owner Silvio Berlusconi, the 26-year-old said: "I want to grow old at Milan. My aim is to become at some point in the future the captain of this team. I know there is a hierarchy and [Paolo] Maldini and [Massimo] Ambrosini are before me, but after..."

Manchester City's audacious bid for the 2007 World Player of the Year – believed to be north of £90m, with up to £500,000 per week in wages – may have eye-watering figures, but the Brazilian is used to having large cheques waved in front of him: "I have already turned down some major offers."

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Gary Parkinson is a freelance writer, editor, trainer, muso, singer, actor and coach. He spent 14 years at FourFourTwo as the Global Digital Editor and continues to regularly contribute to the magazine and website, including major features on Euro 96, Subbuteo, Robert Maxwell and the inside story of Liverpool's 1990 title win. He is also a Bolton Wanderers fan.