Brazil coach Dunga denies losing patience with Kaka

Brazil coach Dunga has denied suggestions that he has lost patience with playmaker Kaka.

The Milan player has been ruled out of the World Cup qualifiers away to Paraguay and at home to Argentina by Dunga after undergoing knee surgery on May 23.

Brazilian media had suggested that Dunga was unhappy at the timing of the operation and was frustrated at again being left without the World Player of the Year, who missed last year's Copa America after asking to be rested.

"They misunderstood what I said," Dunga told the Sportv cable channel in a telephone interview.

"I just want him to get better and after that he can return to the national team in his own time."

Dunga said he took the decision to drop Kaka from the squad even though there was a chance the player could have faced Argentina on June 18.

"From our point of view, there would not have been time for him to be in 100 per cent physical and technical condition," he said.

"And can you imagine the responsibility we would have if we sent Kaka out to play Argentina and something serious happened to him."

Dunga said he also accepted that Milan had the right to decide the timing of the operation which came immediately after the end of the Italian season.

"Milan pay his wages and they are responsible for him," he said.

"Milan decide when he has to be operated. The Italian championship finished, Kaka talked it over and agreed he had to undergo surgery."