Ricardo Kaká’s move to Milan was one that none expected to draw the attention it did, as the Brazilian trequartista went on to etch a legacy at San Siro. One of the parties involved in the coup from Sao Paulo was Frosinone sporting director Guido Angelozzi, who was then at the helm at Catania. It was agent Gaetano Paolillo who struck the deal with then Milan executives Adriano Galliani and Ariedo Braida.
Angelozzi, who was awarded the ‘Una Vita per il Calcio’ award in Palermo, reminisced about what it took for Kaká to arrive in Milan and the actors involved.
“I was involved in that operation, we did it and I was happy for Milan and for the agent. How did it come about? I had a coach with ties to Galliani, I was the sporting director of Catania and the mayor then was in Silvio Berlusconi’s party. There was Braida at Milan and we were waiting for Galliani. There was Paolillo, Kaká’s agent and he told me that we should speak well of the Brazilian, who I had never seen.”
“We talked about Vitali Kutuzov and a defender, when we finished, I told Galliani that Kaká was very strong. I told him that he would go to Inter and he asked (Milan lawyer) Leonardo Cantamessa the player’s zodiac sign. Nobody knew, but once he saw the date of birth, Cantamessa said that Kaká was a champion.” (via Tuttomercatoweb)
Angelozzi then took stock of his side’s current Serie A standing in the top half of the table.
“It’s a very difficult championship. Last year, I was lucky enough to win Serie B, but it’s a different sport here. We are a very young team, we are doing well but there are 30 games left. Three or four years ago Benevento closed with 24 points the first round, and then they were relegated. We always need humility and we have to work, work and work.”
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