Whilst it's a given that Kaka would improve any team in the world, he does not represent the best use of Manchester City's mega bucks at this stage of their side's development.
As unlikely to dramatically increase Eastlands season ticket sales that the triple captures of Bridge, Bellamy and DeJong are, they represent sensible business at this stage of a project which can only work if treated as long-term.
From the moment Sheikh Mansour grounded his private jet in Manchester with the intent of ripping up and rewriting football's rich list, the right noises have been made. No fear, we're in it for the long run the new regime were at pains to stress.
All very well but not entirely in keeping with the noises that 100 million pound bids make. Having raised an eyebrow with the Robinho offer, they well and truly raised two with their pursuit of Ricardo Kaka.
And where does Mark Hughes fit into all this? The superstar Brazilian did not appear on his January wish-list. Being as sensible as his haircut suggests, the Hughes transfer targets list was headed by the likes of Scott Parker and Shay Given.
If the powers that be at Eastlands can avoid the distractions of the glitz and glamour on offer in Milan and other European football hotspots, then they would do well to consult to their manager's masterplan.
At this stage of the project, City need their Waynes and their Craigs. Achieving moderate success with these players could lead to the attraction of the Ricardos and Thierrys. On the monopoly board of the Premier League stage, players of Kaka's ilk represent the luxury of hotels, but City have yet to purchase an above average street.
The galactico blueprint was set by Real Madrid at the turn of the millenium. Their project was launched on the relatively solid foundations of being the world's biggest club, but even their most staunch supporter would struggle to label it an unqualified success.
City are not starting their journey from the same (or even vaguely similar) foundations. Hughes, a student of the game, understands the need to fill his squad with players in the league of his trio of new signings. Over a period of time such players should facilitate an accent up the table which in turn may start to interest the superstars of world football.
It appears that Manchester City could complete a deal for Shay Given this week. It wont attract a fifth of the newspaper space that the Kaka saga consumed, but it is exactly the avenue that the club should be exploring at this stage.
Of all the various decision makers involved in project Manchester City, one party must take the lead on their approach in the transfer market, thus avoiding the current apparent confusion. They must listen to Hughes; the sensible man, the football man.
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