Ancelotti begs Kaka not to join Real Madrid

LONDON - New Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti made a dramatic phone call to Brazilian football star Kaka, begging him not to join Spanish club Real Madrid.

Ancelotti rang up Kaka in a bid to stall his world record 62 million pound switch from AC Milan to Real Madrid.

Milan sources were adamant last night that Kaka will still go to Real and the deal will be confirmed on Monday. But Blues owner Roman Abramovich discovered on Wednesday morning that Kaka’s transfer had still not been legally concluded.

That sparked Ancelotti’s call and speculation mounted throughout the day that Chelsea had offered a staggering 73.5 million pound for the playmaker and were willing to pay him 17 million pound in wages, The Sun reports.

Ancelotti was Kaka’s boss at Milan for six years and forged a close relationship with his star player.

A pal of Ancelotti confirmed: “Carlo called Kaka in Brazil. Carlo is hopeful that Chelsea can be a tempting destination and his personal bond with the player can make a difference.”

But a Milan insider last night insisted Ancelotti’s pleas are too little, too late. “He is not going to Chelsea - even though Ancelotti has been asking him for some time to come with him.”

“The will of the player in this case is paramount. And we know that he wants to join Real Madrid, not Chelsea. This is no longer a moving story. The announcement will come on Monday,” the insider said.

Milan’s owner, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, was facing a backlash from Italian fans yesterday - who also revolted when Kaka nearly joined Manchester City in January.

Berlusconi, whose political party faces European elections on Sunday, promised them he would announce a decision once the voting was over.

Meanwhile, Real sporting director Jorge Valdano was last night desperately trying to seal Kaka’s transfer to the Bernabeu. (ANI)