Cafu has revealed that he almost didn’t join AC Milan from Roma because a Japanese side were pushing for him, while he also shed some light on his exit from the club five years later.
Considered one of the best full-backs to ever play the game, Cafu ended his career with 282 Serie A appearances and 55 in the Champions League. He won the World Cup in 1994 and 2002, the Copa America in 1997 and 1999, the Scudetto at Roma in 2001 and Milan in 2004, plus the Champions League, Intercontinental Cup, two UEFA Super Cups and other honours.
The Brazilian left Roma in 2003 and headed north to join Milan where he quickly established himself as a key performer under Carlo Ancelotti, then heading back to his home country half a decade later.
Cafu spoke at the Festival dello Sport event in Trento which was organised by La Gazzetta dello Sport, with his comments relayed by Football Italia.
“I was meant to join Parma, but that was a wonderful Roma team. Winning the Scudetto at Roma is different, because the city is so passionate and in love with the team,” he said.
“After Roma, I was ready to sign for a Japanese club that had already deposited money in my account. I called them up and said, ‘Guys, there is a small problem. Milan just rang me.’
“I went to Milan and they got a little angry with me. Milan weren’t paying as much as the Japanese side, but understand, it was Milan. Ancelotti wanted me to play only 12 games a year, but I played them all, until I was 38.
“I never wanted to rest, I always played and we won everything there was to win. We were a team that ran a lot, I was always at my best from a physical point of view. If I’m well on the pitch, I’ll take care of it…
“[Ancelotti was a] Coach, father, brother. For me he was everything. He [Silvio Berlusconi] was impressive, every day he had a tactic in his head. He came to Milanello and gave us advice. Fantastic. And he respected all the players.
“I learned a lot from Italy and at Milan I had exceptional teammates. Like Maldini, he is Milan. He was the greatest defender in the history of football, he made Milan great and he should always work there.
“In 2006, I told Galliani that I was going to leave in 2008, because I wanted to go back to Brazil and be with my father. In the summer of 2008, Galliani and Leonardo called me into their office and gave me another year on my contract.
“I said it was enormously pleasing they would do that, but I was still going to leave. The time had come and I wanted to be back home.”
Cafu also spoke about the fact that he came from a family where playing football was the norm, and that he was driven on by his brother who was a more talented player.
“I wanted to be a player. I had that in my head. My brother was much more talented than I was, he had an incredible left foot. But in a family of six, someone had to go to work.
“My brother told me: ‘Yes I’m more talented at football, but you are the most passionate about it. I think you’ve got more hunger for this, so I’ll leave it, but you go and play.’ Now I try to do everything I can for my siblings.”
Finally, a comment on his compatriot: “Emerson Royal is very good, if he wasn’t a very good player he wouldn’t have been bought by Milan. He did good things in England but now that he’s at Milan he can find the right opportunity to return to the national team.”