Ancelotti powerless to stop Kaka move

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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 £108million offer from City.

"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."

He added: "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 Milan 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 Ancelotti 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."

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.