Kaka named in Real Madrid squad to face Getafe

Posted on January 3, 2011 by SoccerPunter

Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho said on Sunday that he will have to re-construct his team in the absence of injured Argentine striker Gonzalo Higuain.

Higuain is out of action with a slipped disc in his back and Mourinho compared his absence to that of Brazilian playmaker Kaka, who has missed the start of the season with a knee problem and since rejoined the squad.

“We were missing (Kaka) for six months and we built a team,” Mourinho said at a press conference prior to Monday’s trip to Getafe.

“Now we have to build a team without Higuain. The team has to adapt to the circumstances. Some players will have to play in positions that are not theirs, in a different system.”

Mourinho added that Higuain “will have to have an operation, without any doubt”.

Higuain, who typically starts in attack for Real alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, has been unable to play since the end of November.

Real revealed at the beginning of December that the 23-year-old had sustained a slipped disc that could necessitate an operation, which would keep him out of action for a further two months.

Kaka returns to action

The Brazilian Kaka, who has been out since the start of the season, was on Sunday named in the Real Madrid squad for Monday’s trip to Getafe by coach Jose Mourinho.

The playmaker, who won the 2007 Ballon d’Or, underwent surgery in August after injuring his left knee and only returned to training with the squad on December 18.

“I’m very happy today,” Kaka wrote on his Twitter account.

“After a long period, I’m back with my team-mates, for the game tomorrow. Thanks Lord.”

Prior to his injury, Kaka had struggled to shine due to a combination of injuries and poor form.

The 28-year-old joined Real from AC Milan for around 65 million euros in June 2009, shortly before the arrival of Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo.

Kaka’s hopes of reclaiming a first-team place have been hit by the arrival of 22-year-old playmaker Mesut Ozil, who joined Real from Werder Bremen last summer after starring for Germany at the World Cup in South Africa.