FUTURE UNCLEAR

There has been intense speculation over the future of Brazilian midfielder Kaka for a number of years now. He has been widely speculated to leave Real Madrid on a number of occasions, but the 31-year-old has managed to stay at the Santiago Bernabeu and fight for his place. However, the summer could finally see the Brazilian move away from the Spanish capital after intense rumours suggested that he could be on his way back to Brazil with Corinthians. Due to the Brazilian economy booming like never before, Brazilian clubs are able to afford star players and their enormous wages.

They have also been able to retain stars like Neymar for much longer as well. Corinthians, though, denied suggestions that they have agreed a deal with Real Madrid to bring back Kaka. Corinthians are one of the clubs who are especially well endowed with a lot of cash as a result of winning the FIFA Club World Cup. Kaka play for São Paulo before moving to Europe with Italian club AC Milan where he established himself as one of the best in the world. He became one of the few Brazilian players to have won the FIFA Ballon d’Or award during his stellar career.

He moved to Real Madrid in a then world record transfer for £ 62 million, but he has largely struggled for form and fitness in Spain.

"There is nothing, it's just speculation. I don't know where that story came from, but it didn't start at Corinthians. He is an excellent player, no doubt about that, but we haven't even talked about him," said club director Duilio Monteiro Alves. "No chance, that's not true," said Kaka's agent Tadeu Cruz. The 31-year-old has been linked with the Premier league in recent times. Chelsea and Manchester city are two clubs who have held a long-standing interest in the player.