The current Orlando captain is still considering retirement
Wednesday 11 October 2017 21:41, UK
Former Brazil and AC Milan midfielder Kaka has announced he will not renew his Orlando City contract as a player.
The 2007 Ballon d'Or winner this week revealed he was losing the "happiness" of playing due to increased recovery periods needed between games, hinting he could follow New York City's Andrea Pirlo in announcing his retirement from playing.
Kaka was offered a new deal to stay at MLS side Orlando City for 2018 and the club's chief executive, Alex Leitao told the Orlando Sentinel the midfielder had "expressed his desire to play another year".
But the iconic midfielder has now opted to call time on his playing time with the club beyond the end of the current MLS season, following two months of consideration.
Pain will not be the base of my decision.
"My first cycle as Orlando player is going to finish at the end of this season," said Kaka, sat alongside Leitao and Orlando City majority owner Flavio Augusto da Silva.
Kaka insisted he remains undecided on what his next step will be, but clarified that his previous comments regarding his physical condition will not impact whether he plays on or not.
"Pain will not be the base of my decision," said Kaka. "As a soccer player, everybody has some pain and we have to sacrifice our bodies for that. My decision is not based on my physical situation and will not be in the future."
Kaka suggested he could yet come back to Orlando City as an ambassador and received the backing of the club's hierarchy.
Leitao added: "Orlando will have to stand up and learn to walk without him. The doors will always be open for you in whatever you decide to do in the next phase of your life."
Kaka won both the Champions League and Serie A during his time at AC Milan, which saw him score 70 goals in 193 games for the Italian giants.
