Reports: Orlando City make Kaká first designated player of MLS era
Orlando City SC doesn’t begin play in MLS until the 2015 season, but it has steadily been ramping up from the second division of American soccer to the first division. One of the big rumors out there has been Orlando City looking to bring in a big-named player for its first year in MLS.
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The player most linked with Orlando City has been Brazilian-born Kaká. According to a report by Paul Tenorio of the Orlando Sun-Sentinel, Kaká has agreed to terms with the newest MLS club to be its first designated player.
On Friday morning, the club confirmed to Grant Wahl of Sports Illustrated that it is in advanced talks with Kaká to join the team for the 2015 season.
Orlando City confirms it's in advanced talks with Kaká to have him join the team in January 2015.
— Subscribe to GrantWahl.com (@GrantWahl) June 20, 2014
It appears the writing is on the wall for the 2007 FIFA Ballon d’Or winner to join the new MLS club after he opted out of the final year of his two-year agreement with Italian giants AC Milan.
Kaká’s signing at Orlando City shouldn’t be a big surprise because of his ties to Orlando City owner Flávio Augusto da Silva. According to Tenorio’s source, 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 move has been hinted at for months on both sides, with Kaká making his intentions clear as well.
“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.”
He comes to the United States after a rejuvenating season back at AC Milan, where he scored seven goals and had four assists in 30 appearances for the club.