MADRID, Spain (AP):

Real Madrid confirmed the signing of Brazil star Kaka on Monday in the first step of club president Florentino Perez's plan to return the Spanish side to the glory days of its 'galactico' era.

While Real Madrid did not disclose financial details of Kaka's switch from AC Milan, reports say the figure is in the region of €65 million ($92 million), eclipsing the largest previous transfer set by Zinedine Zidane when he joined Madrid from Juventus for $65 million in 2001.

Kaka, 27, is training with the national team in Brazil ahead of the next round of World Cup qualifiers, said the finalisation of the six-year contract marked the end of a "soap opera" that will usher in a new phase of his career in Spain.

"Now the soap opera is over," Kaka told a media conference after a practice ahead of today's Brazil-Paraguay qualifier in the northeastern coastal city of Recife. "The only leftover details were the medical exams and I've done them. The negotiations are closed and I have sealed my transfer to Real Madrid."

Kaka passed a medical in Recife earlier Monday.

Future targets

Kaka is the first player to join Madrid since Perez regained the club presidency unopposed last week. Future targets already discussed include Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo and Franck Ribery of Bayern Munich.

Perez has said he intends to revive his galactico policy which, along with Zidane, attracted star players such as David Beckham, Brazilian striker Ronaldo and Portugal star Luis Figo to Madrid earlier in the decade.

Kaka described Perez' strategy as "an interesting sports project".

"He's trying to buy other players and I think he can make a very (attacking) team," he said. "That's behind my decision to go to this team."

Kaka, the 2007 FIFA World Player of the Year, turned down a record €100 million transfer to Manchester City in January.