AC Milan legend Paolo Maldini has come out publicly over the sale of Brazilian International Kaka to Real Madrid, letting fans know the club now has no chance of being at the 2010 Champions League final next year at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Via TimesOnline 

Maldini understands that a transfer fee of a reported a reported £56million will help Milan to balance its books, but he gave warning that the club may be European also-rans without a player that he rates among the world’s very best.

“Milan winning the Champions League without Kaká is a dream,” Maldini said. “Looking at the bank account is logical, but at the start of the season you need to set obtainable objectives and without Kaká the Champions League is a dream.

“He is one of the five best players in the world along with [Lionel] Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. The other four aren’t moving and Milan can’t buy them. Selling Kaká was a big blow to his team-mates and the fans.”

Maldini led Milan to five victories in the European Cup, later rebranded as the Champions League, and three other finals. But he fears that Serie A can no longer compete with the economic power of English and Spanish clubs. “Kaká is the first player of that level to be sold,” he said. “In the past such an idea would never have been taken into consideration.”

Adriano Galliani, the Milan vice-president and general manager, agrees with Maldini on that point. “I remember when we signed [Marco] Van Basten [in the 1990s] and we competed with Barcelona for his signature and he chose us,” he said. “Today, Barcelona and Real Madrid have an income that is double that of ours.

“In the mid to long term, players like Messi and Ronaldo are not going to come here. Thierry Henry had the same offer from Milan as he did from Barcelona, but he told us he could get 50 per cent more in Spain [because of tax rules], so he joined Barcelona. We have got to ask ourselves why nobody is thinking of coming here. The problem with Kaká and Pato is a bigger issue. You can discover any player you like, but if you cannot pay them the wages of a big club, then they go somewhere else.”

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