AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti has admitted he will have no say over whether Kaka leaves for Manchester City. After previously refusing Chelsea and Real Madrid permission to speak with the Brazilian former world player of the year, Milan have finally buckled after being presented with a staggering €120 million offer from City.
Angry Milan fans are preparing a mass protest at tonight's Serie A encounter with Fiorentina at the San Siro, when Kaka will play alongside David Beckham for the Rossoneiri against Fiorentina.
But Ancelotti admits he is powerless to resist the move, if Milan's senior officials give the green light.
"It is not like the days of Franco Baresi or Paolo Maldini when we just used to say 'They are not for sale'," admitted Ancelotti.
"I have said that Kaka should not leave. He is the central part of the future. But I am just the trainer. I train the team. I do not choose the players.
"If Kaka leaves then it is something I will have to accept. The question now is down to Kaka. It's up to him if he stays or goes."
The statement is hardly going to ease tensions among a militant support who have only been able to look upon in complete bewilderment as City put together possibly the most astonishing transfer of all time.
Yet Ancelloti also tried to adopt a calming approach.
"We cannot be too alarmed," he cautioned. "I know what the fans are thinking but they have to be brave.
"The aims for the team remain the same, with or without Kaka."
The idea of life without Kaka is one Milan may have to get used to. Indeed, a part of owner Silvio Berlusconi might privately hope the transfer goes through, given the staggering fee, more than double the current £47million world record Real Madrid paid for Zinedine Zidane in 2001, Milan stand to pocket.
However, there is still plenty of work to do.
Chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak and executive chairman Garry Cook need to convince Kaka's father Bosco Leite of their grandiose plans.
Such is the trust between father and son, if City are successful in that aim, Kaka could well be making his debut against Newcastle on January 28 as planned.
With a clause almost certainly going to be inserted into any contract Kaka signs allowing the player to leave should City not reach a certain level - probably Champions League qualification - within a set time-frame - 18 months has been mentioned - the Blues hierarchy cannot afford to remain static in other areas over the next fortnight as they close in on their number one target.
Hamburg have confirmed a bid has been received from the Eastlands outfit for their highly-rated Dutch midfield star Nigel de Jong.
"Manchester City have signalled their interest in the player and made us an offer," said Hamburg spokesman Jorn Wolf. "We now have to sit down and decide if it is worth considering."
The feeling at City is that De Jong will make the move, which would at least mean Kaka is not settling in on his own should he decide to accept an estimated £500,000 weekly salary.
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