(IN THE PHOTO: Adriano Galliani with Ricardo Kakà)MILAN – Players and staff present as Ricardo Kakà receives a special medal for 300 appearances for AC Milan from club CEO Adriano Galliani.“Applause for the 300 games played by Ricardo kaka for AC Milan. It started in Ancona and I remember it well. We won the Supercup in 2003 at Monte Carlo on Friday and then Monday in Ancona. It was 1st September and we won 2-0 with goals from Shevchenko and Kakà played his first match for the club. It was the start of an incredible run from the player in terms of quantity and quality. He reached the 100 match mark 2 years later, which is more or less 50 games a year. Four years later, it was match number 200. 2010 matches from September 2003 to September 2007. The team won everything in those years. Kakà won both the Ballon d’Or and Fifa World Player of the Year. We won the Club World Cup in Yokahama. Then he went on ‘loan’ to Real Madrid for four years. We knew he’d be back though and that’s why getting from 200 to 300 took a bit longer. 300 games in less than seven seasons at the club is extraordinary. Our hope and we hope it’s the player’s hope too, is that he can get to 400 matches with the club, maybe even 500. Ricky has always been in the hearts of the fans as not many players are. Certain destinies are tied together and so we hope that you’ll be here for many years to come as you have so much yet to give for this jersey. Not many players have played so many game of such quality, memories that will stay with us forever. Heartfelt thanks in the name of President Berlusconi and everyone at the club”.
The player himself had this to say: ”I’m very happy to have reached 300 games for the club and the affection that has been shown to me is reciprocal. The attachment that I have to this jersey and to all my team mates past and present is real. I hope I can play another 300 games. Thank you”.