Why Cafu almost didn’t join Milan and ‘more talented’ brother missed out

Marcos Cafu reveals he very nearly did not join Milan when leaving Roma in 2003 and why he made it as a player when his ‘more talented’ brother did not.

The Brazilian is now 54 years old and spent most of his career in Italy, moving from Palmeiras to Roma in 1997, then on to the Rossoneri for another five years.

However, it was almost a very different experience for the Brazil international right-back.

“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,” said Cafu at the Festival dello Sport in Trento, organised by La Gazzetta dello Sport.

“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…”

Almost a very different career for Cafu

Cafu retired in 2008 and reveals it was a specific plan he had in mind for a while.

“In 2006, I told (Milan CEO Adriano) 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 comes from a big family and that taught him the importance of perseverance in a playing career.

“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.”

He got into the Sao Paulo academy after being rejected four times in trials, moving on to Real Zaragoza, Juventude, Palmeiras, Roma and Milan.

Cafu concluded his career with 282 Serie A appearances and 55 in the Champions League.

The Brazilian 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 much more.