AC Milan release Kaka with MLS looking likely destination for Brazilian

Former club hero on his way out of the San Siro

AC Milan have announced today that they have parted ways with Kaka by mutual consent.

Although the Brazilian playmaker had one year remaining on his contract, it had a clause allowing him to leave should the club fail to qualify for European football, which Kaka has reportedly exercised.

A statement from Milan read: "AC Milan announces it has mutually terminated the contract of Kaka today."

The 32-year-old is widely expected to join MLS next season with Orlando City, having been strongly linked with a move in recent months.

However Kaka is also expected to play on loan for Sao Paolo, the club where he started his career, before the MLS season starts in six months.

The Brazilian only returned to the San Siro last summer, after an unhappy four years at Real Madrid, and scored seven goals in 30 appearances.

However he was unable to live up to the exploits of his first spell at the club, where he won a Serie A title as well as the Champions League, while becoming Fifa World Player of the Year in 2007.

Milan's statement continued: "Certain loves never end, they go in big circles when a contract is mutually terminated.

"The key word is mutual.

"Ciao Ricky (Kaka), we will never leave each other."

The club finished eighth in Serie A last season, failing to qualify for Europe for the first time in 16 years.