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By telegraph.co.uk staff & illya mclellan

With Kaka absent from Serie A competition, who will replace him as an ambassador for the league?

Florentino Perez, the re-elected president of Real Madrid, initiated the resuscitation of a Galactico era begun in 2002, consummating a deal with AC Milan for their Brazilian prized possession worth a reported fee of €65 million.

Maldini, who retired after 24 years in Rossoneri colours after helping Milan finish third last season, admits the transfer makes financial sense but worries how it will affect their Champions League hopes.
“Looking at the accounts, it is a logical thing. But it is also logical to set realistic goals, and winning the Champions League without Kaka is unrealistic.”

Should Cristiano Ronaldo ever make the trip to his native land’s neighbouring country, along with Franck Ribery and perhaps a civic switch for David Villa, there would be a concentration of talent in Spain that may shadow or even dwarf other leagues.

Kaka, after all, professed his love for the Milan shirt, asserted his desire to be captain once Paolo Maldini left his post, and recently assured fans of his loyalty to the club.

This would lead one to say this, like former Milan midfielder Zvonimir Boban:

“Milan just allowed themselves to be robbed by selling prestigious players, something which has never happened previously under (Milan owner) Silvio Berlusconi.

“Milan has never sold such great players, and I am disappointed. I am sorry for all this, and it’s a shame that money makes players leave, but there have been players who stayed on. However, Kaka was free to make his own choice.”

Boban added: “There were tears and protests from the fans, and it seemed like turning down Manchester City was a definitive ‘yes’ to Milan, but obviously it wasn’t. Those players who want to stay on at Milan do, and the club never allows a player who wants to stay to leave, especially players like Kaka.”

If Real Madrid are successful in swaying more prominent players to the Bernabeu, it is definite the numbers in Spain will increase, coupled by a plausible decrease in Serie A. Not to direct any disrespect to the French, but that would situate Italian football in a place of perhaps collective irrelevancy in a grand European scope.

The retirement of Maldini, Pavel Nedved, and Luis Figo add to the depth of players uprooted from the Italian league this year, and that may have palpable as well as tangible repercussions in the form of the league’s appeal in Europe.

However, there is still an entire summer of transfers looming—and the compensation fee met by Perez to Milan may suffice as enough to recoup the loss of Kaka.

Milan need a Ronaldinho revival. New AC Milan coach Leonardo said that his fellow Brazilian Ronaldinho can rediscover his best form in the upcoming season.

With the recent furore over Kaka and his record-breaking move to Real Madrid, much has been said about the decline of the Serie A and in particular the reduction of Milan’s chances in competing with the other big European clubs.

To lose a player of Kaka’s quality would be a blow to any side and Milan will have work to do if they are to soften the blow of his exit.

A little mentioned thing is the ability of a certain Brazilian maestro who made a move to the San Siro last year. Cruelly and ridiculously labelled a has-been and a seat filler, Ronaldo de Assis Moreira—or Ronaldinho—is still one of the world’s most talented footballers and still capable of carrying a team to greater levels of achievement.

At 29-years-old he is on the verge of his last few seasons in the game and this has been seen in the past to be something that can spur many a player to greater things to light up the twilight of their careers.

Without doubt one of the most gifted individuals to grace the world stage with his skills, he is still held in the highest regard across the world, despite the criticism of many journalistic hacks who if they encountered a football at their feet would invariably trip over it.

Not so the Brazilian who in 2005 was named world footballer of the year for the second consecutive year. An amazing feat and something that sets him apart from the footballing world as one of the true greats of the game. Although known by many to like the nightlife, it is at this stage of his career that his maturity could now hold him in good stead to really make his mark in Italy.

With Kaka gone he should become the lynch-pin of the side which should suit him beautifully and enable him to impose his will on the side in a more authoritative manner.

A simply incredible player to behold in full flight, his talents are at times breath-takingly magical in their execution and grace. A goalscorer as well as creator, his day could well have come again with the transfer of his international team mate.

As Kaka leaves the fold everyone wonders who can step into the void that the he leaves. To this writer the answer is astonishingly simple and, luckily for Leonardo, exists within his current squad.

Two time world footballer of the year and key part of the side that took Brazil to the 2002 FIFA World Cup, Ronaldinho.

It is time for Ronaldinho to show the world again why they fell in love with him in the first place, you would doubt he will get a chance like this again.

hope to see more of these moments in the future.