There is also something clearly surreal about the Kaka saga, whose intricacies have dominated soccer news this week like a high-profile trial. Because money talks, the deal is more likely to happen than not as long as Sheikh Mansour plonks his loose change on the table, drunk on the dream.
Kaka himself may have been in tears this weekend, but his paymasters, AC Milan chief Adriano Galliani and de facto boss Silvio Berlusconi, appear to be ushering him out the door with dollar signs in their eyes. David Beckham, the world's highest-paid player, is more likely to wave farewell to MLS if Kaka leaves the rossoneri, but Becks has been so far out of the limelight this week he hardly seems to matter.
There is nothing illegal about Milan selling their ace, but it does break unwritten laws. Fans and football's natural order are upset.
Unlike Chelsea, who were Champions League qualifiers and one of England's top teams when Roman Abramovich’s yacht dropped anchor in 2003, Manchester City remain real underachievers.
This is the straw which should break the back of any camel attempting to negotiate the eye of a needle: Kaka's move makes no sense for him in football terms. The boy from Brasilia is 26 and at the height of his powers. One of the world's best players at one of the world's best teams, he should not be leaving the game's premier club competition (the UEFA Champions League) and lowering his sights to join a team doddering four points above their drop zone, whatever his super-remuneration will be.
Man City need reinforcement in all areas to challenge for the CL, a target which seems surely out of range for 2009/10. And there is absolutely no guarantee the Arab arrival will bear sudden fruit. A quick transformation from PL strugglers to CL contenders? I doubt it.
Kaka at City does not bode well. The Blues from the Eastlands already have three Brazilians who have sulked off out at various times this season, and the rainy North-West of England is still no cultural breeze for South Americans, however open-minded and adventurous the well-bred Ricardo Izecson dos Santos Leite is. The expectation level will be enormous on one man and unless there five or six other big-money buys, it could all end in more tears.
For the guy at the epicenter of this whole shebang, the risk of failure is too high.
Saying your favorite book is the Bible and wearing Christian t-shirts for the cameras leaves one inevitably open to scrutiny. So it is fair to ask if Kaka has read Jesus' words in Matthew 19:23-24 (or indeed in Mark 10:24-25 or Luke 18:24-25) –
"I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven…it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."
Don't be a hypocrite now, Kaka. You don't have to move. Don't be bullied by Berlusconi. Respect the wishes of the fans who made all those banners in your honor at the San Siro this weekend and who have marched in protest out of love for you.
Stay where you are happy, where your family is settled, where you w
ill have the best chance of trophies and where the sun does not shine only on TV. Think of the respect you will earn in Milan instead of the money you could earn in Manchester. Read Jesus' words again and don't fix what ain't broke. Consider it God's will and he will look after you. You may regret risking it all at Eastlands but you won't regret staying in Lombardy.
Forza Kaka, prove to us there is more to soccer, and life in 2009, than just money.
-Sean O'Conor
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5 comments:
On the one hand, I hate the idea of a team trying to buy its way into a championship (hey, I'm a Spurs and Redskins fan, so know it generally doesn't work!). And even if Citeh is successful in both putting together the team and actually achieving some measure of glory, what is it really all worth?
On the other hand, the idea that a team other than the Big Four can do something in the Premier League and Champions League is refreshing. I generally hope it happens for teams like Aston Villa or Everton, but I could live with ManCity. I mean really, why should Real Madrid and the other big boys be the only ones enjoying the fruit of their big budgets?
In time, I may hate what ManCity turns into, but for now I wish them success.
A bit melodramatic, no? Go wherever you want to go, and know that Jesus probably doesn't care about soccer.
He's already an extraordinarily rich man, which makes your Bible reference a moot point, and there's such a thing as context to that scripture. It's very simple to understand if you actually read the entire exchange. But feel free to pick a verse or two and use it to mean whatever you want - most people do. And I'd love to hear how you know the motives of the man's heart - do tell. Jesus knew those of the rich man - please tell us how you know Kaka's.
"He said it's because money isn't everything in life. Kaka is staying with us and we're delighted. Money is important, but there are also other things that are important."
I don't claim credit for anything, but I am glad Silvio Berlusconi and Kaka have seen the light!
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