Kaka, the Brazilian's brains of the new Real Madrid

After three years without a real playmaker, Real Madrid can now count on the services of Brazilian star Kaka, who has already proved he is a match for the last great player to take the role - Zinedine Zidane.

The 2007 World Footballer of the Year will not have to shoulder all the responsibility of leading the midfield this season, as Real chairman Florentino Perez - never one to do anything by halves - has also signed Cristiano Ronaldo and Xabi Alonso.

But the 27-year-old, signed from AC Milan in June for 65 million euros, already seems to be the ideal successor to the French legend Zidane.

"Kaka is an ace. If he has achieved anything at all throughout his career it has been to give a touch of brilliance to all the teams he has played for," Real coach Manuel Pellegrini said on the eve of the Spanish league season.

Ricardo Izecson Dos Santos Leite, which is Kaka's full name, has already repaid the club's faith in him, having staged stunning performances when Real crushed Borussia Dortmund 5-0 and Rosenborg 4-0 in pre-season matches.

He is now one of the pillars on which Pellegrini hopes to build a Real team that can defeat arch-rivals Barcelona, who last year won a unique treble of European Champions League, Spanish League and Spanish Cup trophies.

He "changes speed, changes the game," for Real, said Pellegrini, who seems ready to opt for a 4-2-2-2 formation in which the Brazilian will be alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, with Lassana Diarra and Xabi Alonso behind them and Raul and Karim Benzema up front.

Real fans have also taken him to heart, as much for his demonstrative attitude and love of the game as for his skills on the field.

This is in contrast to Cristiano Ronaldo, who has had a disappointing pre-season after moving from Manchester United for 94 million euros.

"We have taken a qualitative leap. Kaka is a player who brings a lot of money and he brings something that Florentino Perez likes: a value that is at the same time sporting and strategic," said the club's director general, Jorge Valdano.

Presenting his new prize signing to fans last month, Perez praised Kaka as "one of the best players in the world", for his "impeccable behaviour" and as "one of the icons of our time."

But one question remains: How long can Cristiano Ronaldo put up with being in his shadow?