Kaka sanguine about starting from bench

Brazil midfielder Kaka says he has no complaints about having to sit on the substitutes' bench for his country, despite his rampant success at club level.

Kaka was voted the best player in last year's Champions League after finishing as top scorer with 10 goals on his way to helping Milan win the trophy.

Yet when Brazil faced modest Algeria in a friendly last month, he suffered the indignity of starting on the bench.

Kaka, however, said he agreed with coach Dunga's decision, which followed his controversial request to skip the Copa America in Venezuela in June and July.

"Ever since he (Dunga) took over, he has said that nobody has a guaranteed place in the team and I think that's fair," Kaka told Reuters in a telephone interview from Italy.

"That's how it has to be, everybody has to win his place. I think it's a fair way to pick the team."

Kaka and Barcelona's Ronaldinho asked to sit out the Copa America in Venezuela in June and July, saying they were tired after the long European season.

Dunga has demanded complete dedication from his players, however.

"I was on the physical limit," said Kaka, justifying his request to skip the Copa, which Brazil still won. "I wasn't frustrated exactly because I'm aware of what I've achieved. What I have done is a memory for me, a landmark in my life."

Kaka played the second half of the Algeria match, which Brazil won 2-0 and is in the squad for the friendlies against the United States in Chicago tonight and against Mexico in Boston three days later.

"If the games are not in Europe, the club is not obliged to release me but for these two friendlies I asked Milan not to create any problems with the CBF (Brazilian Football Confederation) as I want to play," he said.

Kaka said his big target this season was to win the Club World Cup which will be held in Japan in December and where Argentina's Boca Juniors are likely to be Milan's biggest threat.

"The world club cup is a title which is missing for me. In Brazil, we learn as we are growing up that this is the most important title.

"Here in Europe, it doesn't have the same value as it has for us Brazilians but my dream is to win this championship."

Milan future

Kaka, the subject of recent speculation about a move to Real Madrid, said he might leave Milan before his contract ended in 2011.

"This year at least, I will continue at Milan. But further ahead, I don't know. I'm happy and my family have adapted to Italy but it depends on Milan too.

"I don't want to stay in a place where neither myself nor the club are satisfied."

Kaka said he supported the idea of Brazil hosting the 2014 World Cup, a tournament for which the country is the only candidate.

"Brazil can only win by staging this World Cup," he said. "We have time. A lot can happen before 2014 in terms of organisation."

Kaka, who will be 32 by then, said he had not considered whether he would be playing in the tournament.

"I don't even know if I will take part in the next one in 2010, let alone in 2014," he said.