In a recent interview, legendary football manager Carlo Ancelotti shared vivid memories of Kaka’s unexpected journey from an unassuming arrival to becoming a football phenomenon at AC Milan.
“Kaka landed at Malpensa Airport and I put my head in my hands,” Ancelotti recalled. “He had eyeglasses, perfectly combed hair, and the face of a good boy. All he was missing was schoolbooks and a snack. My god, we signed a college student. Kaka didn’t look anything like a Brazilian footballer; he reminded me of a Jehovah’s Witness.”
Initial skepticism wasn’t limited to Ancelotti. Luciano Moggi, a prominent figure in Italian football, openly criticized the signing. “With that name in Italy he’s done for. At Juventus we’re all constipated. We don’t pay for Kaka,” Moggi remarked dismissively.
However, the moment Kaka stepped onto the pitch, still jet-lagged from his journey, everything changed. “The heavens opened,” Ancelotti said. “With the ball at his feet, he was monstrous. I stopped talking simply because I was at a loss for words. Words didn’t even exist for what I was seeing. The Jehovah’s Witness was actually someone who spoke directly with God. And, I’m sure in one of those conversations, they talked about football.”
Kaka’s first training session as a Milanista was a revelation. Facing the formidable Gennaro Gattuso, Kaka endured a brutal shoulder barge yet maintained possession. Gattuso, in his typical rough encouragement, simply said: “F**k off.” Unfazed, Kaka then delivered a stunning 30-yard pass, catching even the seasoned defender Alessandro Nesta off guard.
Ancelotti fondly recounted his conversation with Adriano Galliani, the former AC Milan CEO, after that unforgettable training session. “At the end of every training, Galliani and I always spoke on the phone so that I could tell him what was going on, and then hear his thoughts. That day I called him: ‘Mr. Galliani, I have some news for you’. ‘Good or bad?’ ‘Good. Very good’. ‘Carletto, are you giving your resignation?’ ‘No, I’m staying, because we just signed a phenomenon’.”
Ancelotti’s narrative highlights the remarkable transformation of Kaka from an underestimated arrival to one of the greatest football talents, whose impact left an indelible mark on AC Milan and the world of football.
