He Belongs to Jesus

Gliding across the surface whilst orchestrating play as effortlessly as he once did so famously in Italy, Kaka’s skill and vision tore apart Espanyol’s defence whilst the Madrid faithful sang his name from the terraces in a 5-0 demolition at the Bernabeu in March this year. To see a player perform like this on television is something, yet having witnessed this specific performance in the stadium, along with 80,000+ fans was extraordinary. Those who believe his form and impact on the game had declined since leaving Italy for Spain were made to eat their words as Kaka proved he is still one of the finest players on the planet with this exceptional display.

Unlike many South American footballers who have been fortunate enough to make the leap to Europe, Kaka was not raised in poverty, nor did he suffer from a tough upbringing. Rather than taking this good fortune for granted, Kaka often states how lucky he is and thanks God for the cards he has been dealt in life.

After surviving a nasty diving accident which nearly left Kaka paralysed at the age of 18, the Brazilian went on to blossom for Sao Paulo and soon started attracting attention from major European scouts. AC Milan eventually won the race for his signature, signing the young prodigy for €8.5million. Forming a formidable partnership with Milan’s star striker Andrei Shevchenko in his first two seasons with the Rossoneri, Kaka proved his worth in the red and black of Milan, instantly becoming a fan favourite during his successful seasons at the club. Considered the best attacking midfielder in the world, Real Madrid broke the bank to sign the starlet for a world record £56million. Madrid would then break this record again four days later with the signing of Cristiano Ronaldo for £80million.

Injuries hampered his initial success in Madrid, having been forced to spend four months of his first season on the side-lines watching his teammates due to surgery on his left knee. Kaka, now 30, has encountered other difficult injury persistence’s in his short career with Los Blanco’s, resulting in losing his starting place to Germany’s Mesut Ozil. However, when fit and playing it is still clear to see that he has lost none of his abilities and still remains a fan favourite as they try in vain in correcting the phrase ‘I belong to Jesus’ Kaka is renowned for displaying. In their eyes he belongs to Madrid and he is not for sharing.

Top Six Transfer Targets

With the European Championships and the Olympic Games dominating sports pages this summer, it is easy to forget that English club managers are still scanning the market to find the next star of the Premier League. If you are gullible enough to believe the rumours that the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo could be heading our way then this article probably isn't for you. Instead it focuses on more 'realistic' rumours, consisting of my top six players I'd like to see grace our pitches.

Yann M'Villa - My list starts with a young French prodigy hailed as the new Patrick Vieira. And if the rumours are true in that he is close to signing for Arsenal, the 21 year old could live up to the impressive comparison. Standing at 6ft and strong in the tackle, the defensive midfielder is made for English football. In addition to the ball winning ability he is renowned for, M'Villa also has great vision, being able to consistently provide assists for his teammates in France. However, if Arsene Wenger is serious about investing in the Rennes midfielder he will have to reach deep into his pockets to match the high asking price, reportedly around £17m.

Jan Vertonghen - Having been in the midst of a transfer saga involving Tottenham Hotspur for the last month, it now appears likely that the Belgian centre-half will be moving to London in the near future. Although his destination has not been confirmed, with Spurs' rivals Arsenal also interested in gaining his signature. The competition for the current Ajax captain does not come as a surprise considering his abilities. Young, brave and composed when in possession are what have attracted the eyes of so many scouts in the last few years. However, after interest from major European clubs in the past, the defender opted to stay in Amsterdam to achieve more. And his decision appears to be paying off as Vertonghen collected two consecutive Eredivisie winners medals as well as being named Eredivisie Player of the Year last season.

Mats Hummels - Another defender with a growing reputation is Germany's Mats Hummels. After being deemed surplus to requirements whilst at Bayern Munich, the now 25 year old opted to join Bundesliga rivals Borussia Dortmund. The transfer revived his career as he has since gone on to become Germany's first choice centre back. Amid transfer rumours that he was being scouted by Liverpool and both Manchester clubs, Hummels has recently signed a new contract with Dortmund, committing himself to the German Champions until 2017, although do not expect this to derail clubs' interest.

Olivier Giroud - The French striker, believed by his club to be "too big for the teams interested in him", has become one of the hottest properties on the market after an impressive season in Ligue 1, finishing with 21 goals for Montpellier as his side were crowned champions. If the Frenchman has an impressive campaign in Poland and Ukraine this summer then his value is sure to rocket. Before striking gold with Papiss Cisse, Newcastle were rumoured to be interested in acquiring his talents, whilst Liverpool, Arsenal and Tottenham have also shown a keen interest. A move to one of Europe's top clubs could be a step to early for Giroud, who would perhaps suit a 'top six' team in a more competitive league than Ligue 1.

Guillermo Ochoa - In recent years Mexico have produced exceptional young players from Giovanni Dos Santos to Javier Hernandez. Yet the talents of Ochoa could eclipse them all. Having spent the entire of his early career in Mexico with Club America, the young goalkeeper caught the attention of several leading clubs' scouts, eventually linking him to Manchester United and Liverpool. Although somewhat surprisingly, the 26 year old resisted these callings and later opted to sign for recently promoted French side Ajaccio. His incredible abilities were clear to see as he was voted Ajaccio's Player of the Year in his first season with the club. Bigger and better things are destined for this extraordinary talented keeper.

Mamadou Sakho - The final player making up my top six is PSG's young defender Sakho. After increasing his reputation in France with some impressive displays, Sakho has since gone on to become an integral part of the French national squad as Laurent Blanc looks to the future. Perhaps his biggest compliment is depriving the experienced Uruguayan defender Lugano to a place in PSG's starting 11. It is no wonder then his compatriot and Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has been linked to him in recent years, as he has all the top qualities needed to succeed in England. However, the young man from Paris was unfortunate not to be selected in the national squad for Euro 2012. But as he is still only 22 his best days are surely ahead of him.