Kaka admits he was surprised to be called up to the Brazil squad again after failing to secure a regular start for Real Madrid.
The playmaker was one of 23 players summoned by coach Mano Menezes on Thursday for Brazil’s friendlies against Iraq and Japan in October, and will be making his return to the national team for the first time since the 2010 World Cup.
“It was a surprise, I didn’t expect it,” Kaka told Brazil’s Radio Bandeirantes. “People started messaging me that there could be a surprise in the list and the expectations grew a bit. I was on alert at the time of the announcement and when it came out and I saw my name in the list everyone was really happy here. The kids, my wife, everybody really enjoyed that I was back.”
Menezes had said recently that he didn’t intend to summon Kaka again until he started playing regularly, but the coach said that the player’s determination to regain his form and his place as a Real Madrid starter played a role in his decision to bring him back now.
Kaka said he was glad that his hard work has paid off.
“I didn’t talk to (Menezes), it’s been a while since I last talked to him,” Kaka said. “I think he got information about me from other people, for sure. What I’ve been doing is work hard to get myself ready, practicing a lot to be able to take advantage of the opportunities that may appear with Real Madrid and now the national team.”
Kaka played for Madrid’s reserve team in a friendly against Millionarios of Colombia on Wednesday, scoring three goals in an 8-0 win, but Menezes said he had already made up his mind about getting Kaka back in the team before the friendly.