Former AC Milan coach Arrigo Sacchi has told his former employers that it would be a mistake to sell Kaka despite a reported world record bid from moneybags Manchester City.
Sacchi is a legend at Milan having presided at the club during one of their most successful spells ever from 1987 to 1991, during which time they won Serie A once and the European Cup twice.
He left to take over the reins of the Italian national team and guided them to the World Cup final in the United States in 1994.
During his time at Milan he coached the likes of Marco van Basten, Ruud Gullit, Frank Rijkaard and Franco Baresi and he believes that Kaka cannot be replaced.
"If you sell Kaka to raise the funds to buy three or four players I think that would be a mistake because there's only one Kaka," he told Rai radio.
"Kaka is not just a great talent but a professional who lives for football and you can't measure the positive example he sets for those other talents who live for money or to climb socially or who don't love football as profoundly as he does.
"If the club needs this money, because it's only right that (president Silvio) Berlusconi stops putting his own money into the club, then sell Kaka and use the money to balance the books.
"But if instead the money is to buy other players then with regards the books it's better to sell other players, keep hold of Kaka and promote youngsters to the team."
Sacchi said he feels for Berlusconi, who has a difficult decision to make.
"He must have an internal battle going on between the boy in him, the man and the president of the club," added Sacchi.
"Hence a battle between the heart and the mind. But I believe he has to make a choice, as club president, that is based on reason."
Meanwhile former Milan captain Demetrio Albertini, who played under Sacchi during a glorious 14-year career at the club, said he wouldn't leave given the same choice as Kaka.
"If I was Kaka, I would stay," he said before adding: "I've always made choices from the heart, as my career shows, but I'm not Kaka and I don't want to judge him."
But he also cast doubt on the assertions by the Milan hierarchy that they have no choice but to sell Kaka if he wants to leave.
"They have already turned down these type of offers," he added. "We will only know the truth when all this is over, for the moment there are only rumours."
It's not just former Milan players and current fans urging Kaka to stay, even singer and Juventus fan Eros Ramazzotti, who lives in the same exclusive compound as Kaka, wants him to remain in the city.
"Stay at Milan because here you can win and the fans really want you," he said.
"But these days football works this way, and if they offer him a lot of money he's right to think about it."
Italian Football League president Antonio Matarrese is more concerned about how Milan will spend the money if Kaka does leave.
"If Kaka is sold and the money stays with us, in the Italian structure, it's a good thing that will strengthen football in this country," he said before adding that he believes Milan can do without the 26-year-old.
"Even without Kaka Milan will still remain a top team, they already have a replacement in Pato."
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