ORLANDO, Fla. – Orlando City Soccer star Kaka announced on Wednesday that he will not be renewing his contract with the team, which expires at the end of this season.
“As you all know my contract with Orlando City ends this year and we’ve been discussing the renewal the last two months, I think, and after that I have been thinking a lot and my final decision is not to renew my contract with this club and now I’m here to announce that my first cycle as an Orlando City Soccer player is going to end at the end of this season” Kaka said during a news conference Wednesday afternoon.
The team captain announced the news alongside majority owner Flávio Augusto da Silva and chief executive officer Alex Leitão, who both thanked him for his commitment to the team in the past three years.
"You were a very important ingredient for the success of this club," da Silva said.
Kaka did not announce what his plans will be now that he will not be renewing his $7 million Major League Soccer contract. He still plans to play in Sunday's game against Columbus Crew and the match against Philadelphia Union on Oct. 22.
“I’ll honor this jersey to the end, as always,” Kaka told reporters.
Kaka said he would consider one day coming back to the Lions as a team ambassador, a general manager or a coach.
“I hope in the future our paths can cross again,” Kaka said, calling his time with Orlando City "incredible."
The Orlando Sentinel reports that options for the former FIFA Ballon d’Or winner include retirement or returning to Brazil to play a final year.