Kaka Move To Manchester City Is Off

It seems that Manchester City's attempt to sign AC Milan star Kaka is no more.

Various reports coming from Milan tonight say that Kaka and AC Milan have turned down the deal while Manchester City claim it was them who called off negotiations.

City's new owners had launched a world record bid to sign the Brazilian midfielder which was said to be anywhere between £100-175m depending on who you believed. What is known is that Milan and Kaka would have benefited greatly from this deal.

For days it seems as if a deal would be done. However, over a rumour-packed 48 hours, Kaka played for AC Milan with fans chanting his name throughout.

This evening as negotiations continued, numerous fans showed support to the player outside his home. In response, Kaka emerged from a window holding a Milan shirt and beat his chest three times to the delighted crowd below.

In the last few hours, Milan owner Silvio Berlusconi claimed on Italian television that Kaka is "not for sale at any price."

Berlusconi said: "Kaka is staying with Milan. For Kaka, money isn't everything."

"Kaka is and remains with Milan," Berlusconi added in a phone interview with the Processo di Biscardi show.

However, other reports state that Manchester City were never involved in negotiations with the player and thus could not turn down the offer from the Eastlands club.

It may be a case of both clubs saving face. AC Milan wanting people to believe that they have turned down the money while Manchester City wanting people to believe that they have ended the talks.

Either way it seems this transfer story is dead in the water.

However, today was successful for Manchester City as they have secured the services of Craig Bellamy from West Ham United and have had a bid accepted for Hamburg's Nigel De Jong.

I sincerely doubt this is the last we have heard of Manchester City in this transfer window.