The 2007 World Player of the Year has long been linked to the Lions because of his ties to Orlando City’s Brazilian owner Flávio Augusto da Silva. The club will loan Kaká to his home club São Paulo for the remainder of the year before it begins play in MLS in 2015, the source confirmed.
The agreement is in place, however Kaká has not yet put pen to paper, the source said. That is expected to be completed in the near future.
Orlando City officials said the club has no comment. ESPN's Taylor Twellman first reported the deal.
The signing would immediately give Orlando City one of the top players in MLS, and Kaká would become one of the most accomplished players in the history of the league. The 32-year-old attacking midfielder was once considered the best player in the world, winning FIFA’s Ballon d’Or in 2007.
Kaká won a World Cup in 2002 with Brazil, and has numerous club trophies, including a La Liga championship (2011-12), a Serie A crown (2003-04) and a UEFA Champions League title (2006-07).
The Brazilian, also known as Ricardo Kaká, joined AC Milan from his home club, São Paulo, in 2003 for a fee of 8.5 million Euro, then departed for Real Madrid in 2009 for a transfer fee of 65 million Euro – what was then the second-highest fee of all time.
Kaká struggled during his time in Spain, making fewer than 100 league appearances in four years before falling out of favor with Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho and returning to AC Milan this season. Once back in Italy, Kaká returned to form with the Rossoneri, scoring seven goals with four assists in 30 Serie A appearances.
AC Milan wanted Kaká to return for the final year of his contract, but Kaká was able to opt out with the Italian giant because the club did not qualify for European play, according to multiple reports. Milan finished eighth in Serie A.
Orlando City has never shied away from the fact that it has been courting Kaká, who would appeal to a Brazilian population that often vacations in Orlando. The midfielder attended a training session last year, and da Silva has long acknowledged his desire to bring in marquee Brazilian players. Orlando City president Phil Rawlins also recently tweeted at the player.
".@OrlandoCitySC we’re ready when you are Ricardo :) #MLS21," he wrote on his account, @OCPres, earlier this year.
Kaká, too, has expressed his desire to play in the United States.
“One day, I would like to play in America,” Kaká told Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera in March. “Let’s see. At the end of the season, I will talk to [general manager Adriano Galliani]. Not just to speak about bonuses and money -- money is not the main thing for me now, and I think that is understood. I want to see what his ideas are and what the club’s ideas are. If it turns out I need to move, I will choose the MLS.”
Now, Kaká is set to become the marquee piece for Orlando City as it begins play in MLS.
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