There’s growing speculation about Kaká’s potential move to Real Madrid this summer. Kaká can certainly be considered a “galactico”. No one doubts that. However, there is the slight problem of his current team: AC Milan.

(In my mind, only two other European clubs can claim to compare to Real Madrid: Manchester United and AC Milan. You can argue all you want. Juventus is great (not so great lately thanks to Moggi-gate) at a national level, but never quite at the European level. There’s Inter also, but nah… Liverpool, and most recently –very recently- Chelsea are also great. But again, they’re not quite at the level of Real, ManU and AC. These teams embody everything that is great, and sometimes not-so-great about football. But anyway, that’s a topic for another day. Now back to Kaká and Real Madrid since it affects two great clubs…)

Kaká is the flagship player at AC Milan. This is especially true since Shevchenko’s departure to Chelsea. Kaká’s influence goes beyond the football pitch. He is an enterprise by himself. He is the new symbol of AC Milan and makes a lot of money for the team. Hey, the kid is an incredible player: tactically aligned, physically gifted, technically perfect, and fast and furious like no other. He’s also a great ambassador for AC Milan: he’s young, well-behaved, good-looking, and beloved around the world. So Mr. Berlusconi may not want to give him up so easily. At least not cheaply…

In my humble opinion, Kaká was one of the election promises Mr. Calderón (Real’s newly-elected Prez) used as his main selling point. Mr. Calderón must now deliver. Real’s newly appointed boss, Fabio Capello, wants the Brazilian in his squad. So far, Real has “only” managed to get Cannavaro and Emerson. These two are great players, but believe me when I say they will not take anyone’s breath away at Bernabeu. Kaká on the other hand, he is made to delight madridistas all over the world and can be –together with Robinho- the epicenter of Real Madrid’s comeback after its three-year hiatus from the football elite. With Zidane and his magic –headbutts included- gone, Real Madrid need a new player to fill in those shoes. Mr. Calderón’s credibility is also at stake. Mr. Calderón should and will push hard to Kaká. But what about Kaká? What does he have to say? After all, the player’s opinion does count. Don’t believe me? Ask Shevchenko…

Kaká’s dad –also his agent- has said Kaká won’t leave AC Milan in bad terms. But he didn’t say he wouldn’t leave. He wants Real Madrid to talk directly to AC Milan. AC Milan will not play the Champions League this season, and that is a bit of a bummer for the Brazilian. Also, he may be tired of the overly-tactic, and creatively-impaired Italian League. Brazilians love Spain and the allure of Las Cibeles in Madrid may be too much for any player to resist. But again, everything has a price. I personally feel AC Milan would lose its best player, a player they need. Kaká can win games on his own for AC Milan. No doubt. But Mr. Berlusconi is, above all, a business man. And if he can milk Real for all its worth, and Real is willing to pay the price, Kaká will be dressed in white next season.