As the transfer window dramatically exploded into life, Roman Abramovich is understood to have personally contacted AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani in a late effort to buy Kaka, but was told that a deal had already been agreed with Madrid for the 27-year-old former World Footballer of the Year.

Galliani and Kaka’s father and agent Bosco Leite were in Madrid on Tuesday evening to finalise a transfer that will shatter the record-breaking £46 million that Madrid paid to bring Zinedine Zidane to the Bernabeu in 2001. Earlier in the day, Kaka had been quoted saying that he wants to stay at Milan.

Chelsea are now hoping to sign Kaka’s Brazil team-mate Alexandre Pato and, after having a bid of £30 million rejected, they have tabled an improved offer. Galliani has already provided hope by suggesting that Milan will find it difficult to turn down interest in their two star players.

"We have had requests for Kaka and Pato from two of Europe’s biggest clubs and we will try and resist but there is an uneven playing field," said Galliani. Chelsea are also ready to offer Didier Drogba a new three-year contract.

AC Milan owner Silvio Berlusconi had hinted earlier at 27-year-old Kaka’s departure moments before Cadena Ser claimed he was indeed moving.

"I do not know if we can keep Kaka at Milan because they (Real) have offered him so much money," Berlusconi was quoted as saying by Italian press agency Ansa.

Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has promised Ancelotti he will invest heavily this summer to fulfil his ambition of winning the Champions League and a high-quality – and expensive – list of targets has been drawn up. At the same time Ancelotti is keen to bring at least one player with him from Milan and if negotiations collapse over Kaka he remains hopeful on 19-year-old Pato and also that a compromise can be reached over Andrea Pirlo despite his former club quoting an initial transfer fee of £20 million.

Big money transfer deals:

Kaka - AC Milan to Real Madrid - £56m 2009 - TBC

Zinedine Zidane - Juventus to Real Madrid - £46m - 2001

Luis Figo - Barcelona to Real Madrid - £38m - 2000

Hernan Crespo - Parma to Lazio - £35.5m - 2000

Gianluigi Buffon - Parma to Juventus - £32.6m - 2001

Robinho - Real Madrid to Manchester City - £32.5m - 2008

Christian Vieri - Lazio to Internazionale - £32m - 1999