July 20, 2008	Sunday	Rajab 16, 1429

LONDON, July 19: AC Milan on Saturday dismissed reports that their Brazilian star Kaka is set to move to English Premier League side Chelsea on a world-record transfer worth 80 million pounds ($160 million).

The Italian club signed his international team-mate Ronaldinho on Wednesday despite reported financial difficulties, and Kaka’s personal assistant Diogo Kotscho claimed all parties involved now want the deal to go through.

“Real Madrid offered 90 million euros last summer and Milan did not even think about the bid,” Kotscho told The Guardian.

“This time is different. This is the first time we feel that a deal will definitely happen.

“Because of the situation Milan are in at the moment, the deal is good for all parties involved.

“The move would represent a significant increase in Kaka’s salary, on top of the 10 percent transfer fee that goes straight to the player anyway – some 15 million euros.

“Chelsea are the club to be at right now. They are building a team to win everything.”

But AC Milan said in a statement on Saturday: “Regarding the comments, Milan director of communications Vittorio Mentana reiterates that Kaka is absolutely not for sale.”

If he moved the FIFA World Player of the Year would be reunited with manager Luiz Felipe Scolari who handed him a Brazil debut in 2002 and then included him in the squad that went on to win the World Cup that year.

Kaka, 26, is under contract with Milan until 2012.

But he was irritated by the club’s refusal to let him play for Brazil in the Olympics, followed by their agreement to let Ronaldinho go to Beijing.—AFP