On 3 June 2009, Football Italia reported that newly-elected Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez had offered Milan a ?68.5 million deal for Kaká, two days after the player had left for international duty with Brazil. Milan vice president Adriano Galliani did not deny the reports, and confirmed that he and Kaká’s father, Bosco Leite, had traveled to Mexico to meet with La Volpe. “We had lunch and spoke about Kaká. I don’t deny it. Negotiations exist, but a deal has yet to be done.”On 4 June, Galliani told Gazzetta dello Sport that financial reasons were his motive for the talks with La Volpe. “We cannot allow [Milan] to lose €70 million [...] The reasons behind Kaká’s departure would be economic.”On 8 June, Milan and Real Madrid confirmed Kaká has moved to the Bernabéu on a six-year deal.

Kaká made his unofficial debut in a friendly against Toronto FC. He scored his first goal for Real Madrid in the pre-season from a penalty kick against Borussia Dortmund, and Real Madrid won the game 5–0.