Ancelotti has been Kaka's coach and mentor for the last six years and, according to the Brazilian forward, he was the man who made a name for the 2007 World Footballer of the Year.

"Carlo Ancelotti is a person I have a very strong bond with thanks to these six years that I have spent here with him as my coach at Milan," he said.

"I am grateful for what he has done for me and for what he has taught me.

"He gave me the opportunity to be known as a footballer across the world and I have won a lot with him.

"I wish him all the best in everything."

Although not explicitly naming him, Ancelotti hinted that leaving Kaka behind will be his biggest regret about leaving the Rossoneri.

"There is one player I would like to take, but I cannot take him with me," he said.

However, the chances of Ancelotti's future employers, likely to be Chelsea, managing to sign Kaka are relatively slim.

Even without Ancelotti, Kaka's affinity with the Milanese side remains strong after he turned down a record-breaking bid from Manchester City in the winter and, given the affection of the club's fans since that move broke down, he has adamantly expressed his desire to end his career with the Rossoneri.

The departure of Ancelotti may mark the end of an era, but it is the start of another one.

"Tomorrow there will be this press conference to present somebody who will lead Milan to win a lot," he told the club's website.

That man is his compatriot Leonardo, who should not need to find too many words in his native tongue to convince Kaka to stay.