AN AC MILAN legend made a terrible first impression on Carlo Ancelotti – and was only saved once he startedplaying football in front of him.
Milan signed the then-relatively unknown Ricardo Kaka in 2003 from Sao Paulo in a £7m deal that was questioned by some while others, such as then Juventus executive Luciano Moggi, mocked his name.
Ex-AC Milan boss Carlo Ancelotti thought Ricardo Kaka looked like a Jehovah’s WitnessGetty
It didn’t get better for then Rossoneri manager Ancelotti when he first saw the playmaker landing in Italy as he wasn’t inspired by his look, which made him look like a “Jehovah’s Witness”.
The Italian tactician immediately regretted that transfer before the former Brazil international even got the chance to kick a ball at Milanello training ground.
But the current Real Madrid boss had to eat his words the moment the then 21-year-old got his first touch on the ball.
The 64-year-old completely changed his tune as he was convinced Milan signed a “phenomenon” that “spoke directly with God”.
Ancelotti wrote on his autobiography Preferisco la Coppa: “Kaka landed at Malpensa Airport and I put my head in my hands: Eyeglasses, hair perfectly combed, the face of a good boy.
“All he was missing was schoolbooks and a snack. My god, we signed a college student. Kaka didn’t look anything like a Brazilian footballer, he reminded me of a Jehovah’s Witness.
“Moggi started to send shade: ‘With that name in Italy he’s done for. At Juventus we’re all constipated. We don’t pay for Kaka’. It was all in jest but I started to have doubts, maybe Moggi was right, it wouldn’t be the first time.
“One day, finally, Kaka showed up to training and to adapt to his new surroundings.
“The first question I wanted to ask him was, ‘Did you let your mom and dad know you’re skipping school today?’ The security at Milanello could’ve asked to see his ID before letting him in.
“Then, he stepped on the pitch still jet lagged and all: the heavens opened. With the ball at his feet he was monstrous. I stopped talking simply because I was at a loss for words. Words didn’t even exist for what I was seeing.
“The Jehovah’s Witness was actually someone who spoke directly with God. And, I’m sure in one of those conversations, they talked about football.
“In his first challenge in training as a Milanista Kaka found himself in front of [Gennaro] Gattuso, who gave him a terrifying shoulder barge, but Kaka didn’t even lose the ball. Rino [Gattuso] in his own way of encouraging his new teammate said: ‘F**k off’.
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AC Milan legend Kaka changed Ancelotti’s mind immediately after his first trainingEPA
“Then, after keeping the ball, Kaka played a 30-yard pass, taking even [Alessandro] Nesta by surprise who wasn’t able to intercept it.
“At the end of every training [ex-Milan CEO Adriano] Galliani and I always spoke on the phone so that I could tell him what was going on, and then hear his thoughts.
“That day I called him: ‘Mr Galliani, I have some news for you’. ‘Good or bad?’ ‘Good. Very good’. ‘Carletto, are you giving your resignation?’ ‘No, I’m staying, because we just signed a phenomenon’.”
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