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London - Chelsea's on-off courting of AC Milan's Brazilian star Kaka is on again.
The English Premier League giants are set to splash a world-record transfer fee of £80million (S$215 million), his adviser claimed yesterday.
A £50 million move was on the cards earlier this month. But the switch failed to materialise.
But now, Kaka's personal assistant Diogo Kotscho claims all parties involved want the deal to go through.
Any transaction looks certain to break the world record transfer fee of £45.62 million which Real Madrid paid Juventus for Zinedine Zidane in 2001.
Initially reluctant to depart, Kaka now believes the transfer is in everyone's interests.
His contract does not expire until 2012. But he is eager to play for Chelsea's new manager Luiz Felipe Scolari.
It was the Brazilian who gave Kaka his international debut against Bolivia in 2002, He also included him in the Brazil squad for that year's World Cup Finals despite his being only 20 years old.
The World and European Player of the Year also believes Chelsea are the most attractive destination in European football.
'Real Madrid offered 90 million euros (S$193 million) 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 per cent transfer fee that goes straight to the player anyway - 15 million euros.
'Chelsea are the club to be at right now. They are building a team to win everything.'
Given their current financial difficulties, Milan can ill afford to reject such a huge bid, despite the club yesterday issuing a statement saying that Kaka is 'absolutely not for sale'.
Having failed to qualify for the Champions League, they have had to cut costs at a time when they are renewing their ageing squad.
Kaka, 26, was irritated by the club's refusal to let him play for Brazil in the Olympics, followed by their agreement to let new signing Ronaldinho go to Beijing.
Kaka believes he has shown his loyalty to Milan by staying last season, despite Real's interest.
He has not demanded a transfer this season either, with the impetus coming from the two clubs. However, he does not want to continue at a club that will not play in this season's Champions League.
If the deal is completed, it would virtually destroy the chances of Real forward Robinho completing his 'dream' move to Chelsea.
The Spanish champions are unwilling to sell until they can sign Cristiano Ronaldo from Manchester United.
AFP
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