The rumors of Brazilian star Kaká joining MLS expansion club Orlando City are gaining new steam.
Multiple outlets, including Spanish sports daily AS, ESPN Brazil and ESPN analyst Taylor Twellman, on Thursday reported that the AC Milan star and former Ballon d’Or winner will be signing on with the MLS expansion team ahead of its inaugural 2015 season.
They also indicated that the 31-year-old would join either Brazilian side São Paulo, his first professional club, or stay with AC Milan on loan until January 2015, when MLS training camps open.
When contacted by MLSsoccer.com on Thursday, Orlando City declined comment on the reports.
The Brazilian international has long been linked with Orlando City, a club owned by a friend and compatriot of Kaká's, Flávio Augusto da Silva, and he recently paid an offseason visit to OCSC's training facilities.
“I believe that every team would like to have Kaká in their team, of course, Orlando City as well,” da Silva told MLSsoccer.com last November at the formal unveiling as the league's 21st expansion team. “Kaká is a great friend of mine. We already work together with my company in Brazil. But why not? The only thing I can say right now is that we’re going to bring someone very, very special.”
At the same event, club president Phil Rawlins confirmed that the club had talks with Kaká.
“We’ve had discussions with Kaká," Rawlins said. “He’s very well known to the organization. We’ll have to see what the next two years bring for him with the World Cup and AC Milan, but if he wants to come here, he’d be very very welcome. I know he loves Central Florida, his family loves it. We’ll see.”
