Kaka may not be playing for Real Madrid for much longer, but the star paired with Cristiano Ronaldo last night to devastate AC Milan and delight a sellout Yankee Stadium crowd.
Ronaldo and Kaka, both former World Players of the Year (the latter all but signed, sealed and delivered to Milan, the Post has learned) led the way for Real Madrid in a 5-1 emasculation.
Ronaldo broke a 1-1 halftime tie with a pair of second-half goals, and broke AC Milan’s collective back. Kaka — who an AC Milan source confirmed is expected to move back to his former club by the end of the month — came on as a sub and still dished out three assists.
“The best players in the world should be at Real Madrid, so personally I’d like him to stay,’’ said Ronaldo, the 2008 FIFA World Player of the Year said of Kaka, who won the award in 2007.
Every move drew cheers from the 49,474 in the crowd, further proof of the drawing power Ronaldo could provide for MLS, a league he said he’s like to join someday.
Nine-time European champ Real Madrid held 64.1 percent possession, outshot Milan 27-8 and put a beating on their Serie A foes — with the biggest blows struck by Ronaldo and Kaka.
Ronaldo scored in the 49th and 66th minutes. And Kaka — whom the Red Bulls bid on, and would love to add in the future — came on in the 62nd minute and opened up the game, setting up the final three goals.
“Today [Kaka] showed me that he’s a very good player, a player that can play at the highest level,’’ Madrid coach Jose Mourinho said. “So if he stays, perfect. But if he decides that the best thing for him is to go, Real will try to help.’’
Milan CEO Adriano Galliani met with Madrid president Florentino Perez during the day regarding Kaka, and hugged him on the field before warmups.Though a Milan source said Galliani and Perez “met over coffee” and the meeting was “friendly,” with no official transfer completed, the move is a fait accompli by the end of the month.
It’s unclear whether that move will be via an outright transfer (which Real Madrid would prefer) or a one-year loan, with the la Liga champs picking up part of Kaka’s huge salary.
The Spanish sports newpaper Marca reported the scrapping of the so-called “Beckham law” in Spain — a 2005 decree that aided rich foreigners by saying they liable only for Spanish taxes on their Spanish source income and assets — would result in Real paying out 70 million euro for Kaka to see out his six-year deal.
“In football there is [a rule] that the player plays where he wants to play,’’ Mourinho said. “When he doesn’t want to play on one club, sooner or later he’ll find way to go. My hands are open if he wants to stay to the 31sdt of August.’’He added an 81st corner that Sergio Ramos converted to make the rout official, and Jose Maria Callejon completed the final margin.