Kaka to stay at Milan, says Berlusconi

Kaka is staying at Milan and will not move to Manchester City, club president Silvio Berlusconi announced late last night.

Media reports said City had bid a world record 110 million euros ($145 million) for the Brazil playmaker and that the clubs and the player's representatives had been in talks for most of the day.

Italian media had said Kaka did not want to go to City but that the transfer could still go through.

However, in an interview on Italian television, Berlusconi last night assured the club fans that the Brazilian had decided to remain with the seven-times European champions.

"You can't force anyone to stay at a club against their will," Berlusconi said. "A player who is getting paid half his potential earnings elsewhere runs the risk of becoming unhappy.

"However, I would like to announce that Kaka will stay at Milan because his first preference was always to play for this club and he has put love above money.

"The negotiations were closed by myself and Kaka in person."

Earlier yesterday around a thousand Milan fans protested at the club headquarters yesterday after Kaka's father and advisor Bosco Leite met chief executive Adriano Galliani to discuss his son's possible move to Manchester City.

Angry supporters, who wanted the club to keep the Brazil playmaker, chanted and held up banners in the pouring rain while blocking a main road outside Milan's city centre offices.

City agree deal for De Jong

Manchester City yesterday agreed to sign Netherlands midfielder Nigel de Jong from Hamburg SV pending personal terms, the German club said. City will pay close to €20 million ($26.29 million) for the 24-year-old former Ajax holding midfielder, according to German media.

"We have had contact with Manchester City and have agreed to release the player if he can strike a deal with the English club," Hamburg spokesman Joern Wolf told Reuters.

"Now it is up to the player and his agent to agree on a contract with that team."