Melo - No Kaka rift

Melo (R): No Kaka rift

Brazil midfielder Felipe Melo insists there is no ill-feeling between him and Kaka following a misunderstanding during training.

"If I go hard in a challenge, it's because it's the way I play, but not because I'm a bad person."
Felipe Melo Quotes of the week

Reports surfaced in the Brazilian media that Kaka was on bad terms with Melo following a hard challenge during practice at the team's camp in South Africa.

But Juventus player Melo says he had nothing to do with the incident, and it later emerged that it was Robinho who went in hard on Kaka.

Confusion

The confusion stemmed from a photograph that was published in the Brazilian media showing Kaka apparently rejecting Melo's help to get up after the tackle.

Melo was upset with the newspapers and websites that ran the story and says he is considering a lawsuit.

"I'm not a bad person," said Melo. "The way they had it, it seems like I'm a bad person.

"If I go hard in a challenge, it's because it's the way I play, but not because I'm a bad person.

"I have family, they see this and they will come to me asking why I'm doing this to Kaka."

Melo revealed he has since spoken with Kaka and explained what happened, adding: "(Kaka's) only word to me was, 'unfair'."

Blame

The Brazilian football confederation said in a statement on its website that the alleged incident between Melo and Kaka, who are likely to start in midfield for Brazil at the World Cup this summer, did not occur.

"Felipe Melo felt he was unjustly blamed for something that never happened," said the statement. "He is Kaka's friend."

Brazil will take on North Korea in their opening World Cup match in South Africa on 15th June, and will also face Ivory Coast and Portugal in Group G.