Kaka says doctor 'exaggerated'

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MADRID -- Kaka rejected claims by the doctor who operated on his knee that the Brazilian player put his career in jeopardy by playing at the World Cup in South Africa.

Kaka said in Friday's edition of Spanish newspaper Marca that Dr. Marc Martens overstated the extent of the injury. Martens performed arthroscopic surgery on Kaka's left knee Aug. 5 after a routine preseason check by Madrid doctors discovered a problem.

Martens said Kaka was in unbearable pain during Brazil's quarterfinal loss to the Netherlands in the World Cup.

"Martens is a great professional but he raised the alarm, he exaggerated a lot," Kaka said.

Kaka had a disappointing first year at Real Madrid last season, and his Brazil team was knocked out of the World Cup at the quarterfinal stage. Kaka said he played in pain before that game.

"I played in pain in a lot of games, not just with the national team, but also with Real Madrid," he said. "And not just my knee, but other parts of my body, too."

Kaka also was hampered by a groin injury last season. The groin problem aggravated the knee injury, he said.

"I will be the best in the world again," Kaka said. "Today it's difficult to say this, but I think I'm going to be successful with Real Madrid. I had the operation to be No. 1 again."

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

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