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MILAN, Italy – AC Milan president and Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has ended transfer speculation surrounding Kaka by telling a TV programme on Monday that the 26-year-old Brazilian will be staying at Milan.

The former World Player of the Year had been the subject of a reported 100 million euro bid from mega-rich Manchester City in a transfer saga that had been picking up pace over the last week.

Berlusconi said last week that with the money on offer he could not force Kaka to stay if he wanted to leave.

But he seems to have changed his mind and claimed on Monday that he had intervened personally to ensure the fans' favourite will be staying in Italy.

"Both I and he (Kaka) have intervened," said Berlusconi.

"When I heard him say that he prefers to stay, that he doesn't feel like he has lost the opportunity to earn a higher salary and that he feels privileged to wear the shirt, he values the closeness and the friendships, the heat and affection that all the fans have shown him even in these last two days, I said 'hallelujah' and we hugged," he told '7 Gold'.

"Kaka is and is staying at Milan."

However, Berlusconi then opened up a little doubt.

"I give my word on the things that depend on me. At the end of this affair I don't know if I will still be president of Milan, as much as I am not any more," he said cryptically before seeming to settle the matter once again.

"He has taken himself off the market with this decision to stay loyal to the contract he has with Milan.

"A contract signed on a piece of paper with a stamp but now we can say with certitude that it was signed with the heart."

He added in an interview with Sky Sport 24: "That's the end of the story. I am truly delighted to have kept Kaka at Milan.

"Kaka is a great champion and a great man. He's refused the offer from Manchester City giving privilege to Milan, his companions and his fans.

"He said it's because money isn't everything in life.

"Kaka is staying with us and we're delighted. Money is important but there are also other things that are important.

"The fans are delighted too. Turning down so much money is something to admire."

The English also confirmed on its website that the affair was at an end.

"Manchester City has terminated its discussions with AC Milan over the possible transfer of the player Kaka," read a statement.

"Following a meeting in Milan today, the Club felt that it was unlikely that the two parties could reach common ground for an agreement.

"The discussions reached only a preliminary stage and the player was not involved at any time. No commercial terms were framed.

City chief executive said that while it would be fantastic to attract players of Kaka's quality the transfer had to be a good all round deal.

"Whilst Manchester City Football Club has an obvious interest in world class players of the quality of Kaka, we owe it to our fans that such a transfer must work on every level; commercially, financially, in terms of results on the field and within Manchester City's broader community," said Cook.

Earlier in the day Milan fans had held a vigil outside his home begging Kaka to stay at their club.

They only went home late on Monday after their idol acknowledged them from his window for the second time.

Fans began their protest against Kaka's proposed 100 million euro transfer to mega-rich Manchester City outside Milan's headquarters during the early evening before heading off to the exclusive compound where he lives.

They stayed there chanting songs about him and pleading with him not to leave until finally being satisfied the second time he waved at them.

City's owners the Abu Dhabi Group had made the former World Player of the Year their primary transfer target during the January window and reportedly tempted Milan with what would have been a world record fee for a player.

Milan initially claimed that they had not accepted City's bid but would not stand in his way if he chose to leave.

The club's fans, however, took a completely different approach and begged him to stay.

In the morning dozens of fans left letters with the caretaker at Kaka's gated compound, a former palace.

"Our letter was one page long in which we wrote from the heart to remind him what he represents for us and to ask him to stay here," said 20-year-old Niccolo, a Milan fan who was part of an early campaign outside Kaka's home.

Kaka's father and agent Bosco Leite had arrived in Milan from Brazil in mid-morning before meeting with his son, according to Italian news agency Ansa, who said that Berlusconi and club vice-president Adriano Galliani met for an hour and a half to discuss his possible departure.

ROME (AFP) – AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani has admitted that his club don't know what to do over Manchester City's reported 100 million euro bid for Brazilian star Kaka.

The Italian club have given Kaka and his representatives permission to talk to City while publically claiming they have not accepted any bid.

Yet on Saturday club president and Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi claimed that with the figures allegedly on the table they could not stand in Kaka's way if he wants to leave.

And now Galliani has admitted Milan simply don't know which way to turn.

"The problem right now is knowing what to do, for the moment nothing has been decided," said Galliani, who received calls from fans to take Kaka's place on a plane to Manchester.

Fans protested against the proposed sale of Kaka during and after Saturday night's somewhat fortunate 1-0 home win over Fiorentina at the San Siro.

One banner read: "Drunk on desire for Kaka", with another saying: "The heart has no price, stay with those who love you Ricky (Kaka's nickname)."

There was a banner mocking a credit card company advert claiming that while Samuel Eto'o (80 million euros), Cristian Ronaldo (120 million) and Lionel Messi (180 million) all had price-tags, Kaka is "priceless."

Another vented anger at the Milan hierarchy proclaiming simply: "shame, shame!"

But the Milan vice-president is trying to distance himself and the club from culpability should the deal eventually go through.

"Neither Milan nor Kaka have signed anything with Manchester City and hence he is still a Milan player," added Galliani.

"I have the same feelings as the fans, I'm a Milan fan but you have to try to balance sentiment against reason."

Galliani then turned his attentions to City and other clubs owned by billionaires capable of turning the transfer market upside down.

"I think a club should exist on its own resources and not from the charity of a magnate who spends stratospheric figures season after season because when one day this magnate doesn't want to or can't continue doing this, well I don't know what could happen then."

In the case that Kaka does leave, Galliani admitted it will be impossible to replace him.

"Signing a second rate player would be useless but there aren't any players of Kaka's ability hence if Kaka does have to leave we will simply be without Kaka, but Kaka hasn't gone."

Kaka didn't have a decisive impact on the game Saturday night despite creating a buzz in the crowd with some purposeful runs during the first period.

Afterwards coach Carlo Ancelotti admitted he too was unsure of where things stood but was hopeful the 26-year-old former World Player of the Year would stay.

"Kaka is important for us, I hope he stays in red and black," he said. "The situation is evolving, still anything could happen because there has been a big offer for a great player.

"I think time is still needed to evaluate everything. Tonight was a very positive one for him, the whole crowd should him how much they love him.

"From a personal, human point of view I've spent seven years with this guy and if he goes I'll be a bit sad.

"But from a professional standpoint things are different because Kaka is still a Milan player, I feel honoured to coach him, to have coached him and now we'll see if something changes."