Former Brazilian star Kaká visited Rio Ferdinand's podcast and openly discussed his years at Real Madrid. Kaká admitted that due to injuries and Mourinho's preference for other players, his Real Madrid career did not meet expectations, and he considers himself and Hazard to be among Real Madrid's worst signings. He was grateful for the tolerance of Real Madrid's senior management and also reviewed many key experiences in his career, stating that faith helped him through low points. Due to the length, it is being released in two parts; this is the second part.
Kaká also shared more thoughts: a poolside accident.
"I grew up instilled with Christian values, and my parents often talked to me about faith. In October 2000, I had a serious accident in a swimming pool, hitting my head hard on the bottom, twisting and fracturing my neck. I wore a neck brace for two whole months. At that time, I was determined to become a professional player, and doctors couldn't even tell me if I would ever return to the field. It wasn't after this accident that I believed in God; I was already devout before, but this incident gave me a profound experience of faith."
"After two months of recuperation, I returned to the São Paulo first team. At that time, the first team called up youth players, and I was initially just sitting on the bench waiting, but I unexpectedly got a chance to play. I performed well in that match, securing my spot in the first team and officially starting my professional career. In just two months, it felt like a miracle had happened, and this faith and the company of my family were crucial."
Ancelotti and the Milan years.
"Ancelotti understood my playing style and even adjusted the tactical formation for me. At that time, Milan primarily played a 4-4-2 formation, and I was initially placed on the right wing. Back then, my tactical understanding was still shallow, and I covered a huge range on the field. For three consecutive games, Ancelotti kept yelling at me, 'Come back, stay on the right side.' Later, he realized that I was more suited to a free-roaming style, so he changed the formation to a diamond midfield, putting me in the central core position.
This arrangement was more suitable for both me personally and the entire team. It was a great fortune to play alongside Pirlo and Seedorf; I grew rapidly by their side. Pirlo taught me the tactical thinking of Italian football; he could always find me in any corner of the field, and I just needed to run into position to receive the ball."
About Ronaldo.
"I played alongside Ronaldo for four years; he has an excellent character and is a great teammate. We both speak Portuguese, and I had close relationships with the Portuguese-speaking players like Marcelo, Pepe, Carvalho, and Ronaldo. The team atmosphere was very harmonious. He has an obsession with constantly breaking records and scoring goals, and his willpower is admirable; I completely understand him.
He trains hard for this day after day and has a unique personality. For me, not everything in life can be controlled, and I only seek to constantly improve myself; but he is different. He is my role model, and having such a star in the team can solve countless problems; playing with him is a rare experience."
Vinicius leading the Brazilian team.
"Ancelotti is an impeccable top coach. Vinicius is now a core player for Real Madrid, reaching the pinnacle of world football, and he is fully capable of becoming the leader of the Brazilian national team. Raphinha also has leadership potential. Casemiro and Marquinhos can also shoulder important responsibilities for the team, and up front, Vinicius, Raphinha, and Cunha are all trustworthy."
Ronaldo (the phenomenon).
"The strongest player I've ever played with in my career is Ronaldo. His on-field thinking combined with extreme execution ability is simply incredible. I often marvel at how he could come up with such attacking ideas and perfectly implement them. Pirlo and I had great chemistry; I didn't need to actively ask for the ball, it would always arrive perfectly at my feet, and it was the same with Seedorf."
The 2002 World Cup.
"In the 2002 World Cup, the team had three superstars: Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, and Rivaldo. I trained, lived, and competed with them the entire time, and those fifty-odd days were like attending a football university; I learned so much. What impressed me most was their daring to try; even if they made mistakes, they wouldn't back down but continued to attack boldly.
That year, during the first team breakfast at the training camp, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Rivaldo, Roberto Carlos, Cafu, Lúcio, and Emerson were all present. At that moment, I vaguely felt that in the past, I only played alongside these stars in games, and now I was actually sitting with them having breakfast.
Ronaldo was especially caring towards me, guiding me everywhere, and during rest time, he would take me to play golf. Our friendship was very special."
Lamine Yamal.
"Yamal's style of play is more similar to Neymar in his prime. When such talented players appear, they always create anticipation, making you want to see what kind of attacking sparks they can create."
Personal ambitions.
"My initial dream was just to play for São Paulo and be selected for the Brazilian national team to compete in international matches; I never dreamed of competing for the Ballon d'Or. Later, when I had the opportunity to contend for this honor, I set it as a goal, but the final outcome was not something I could control. I only focus on doing every step I should, and the outcome is left to destiny."