If Kaká does sign for Manchester City, Mark Hughes will have a unique problem. Most managers have to decide how to fit new signings into a team, but Hughes’s concern will be fitting his existing players around the Brazil star.

Hughes will not have to watch much video footage to realise that the Brazilian can pass and shoot over any range with either foot, perform trickery at pace and even head the ball if necessary. But if he intends to play the 2007 Fifa World Player of the Year in his best position, between midfield and attack, the supporting cast will have to be carefully chosen.

Does that mean that City’s Brazilians should all play together? Kaká started alongside Elano, Jô and Robinho in Brazil’s most recent World Cup qualifying game, against Colombia in the Maracanã Stadium on October 15 — but the side failed to score. That said, anyone who thinks that the arrival of Kaká would make Elano surplus to requirements should consider that they played together to good effect three days earlier in their country’s 4-0 win away to Venezuela. And if it is good enough for Brazil, it is probably good enough for Manchester City.

Of course, many Barclays Premier League clubs could see off Venezuela, and an all-out attacking team will win very little. So the steadiness of Dietmar Hamann or Vincent Kompany will be essential to anchor the midfield and allow others to join Kaká’s forward surges — Stephen Ireland has shown himself adept at timing runs and should flourish alongside the Brazilian.

Hughes must stand up and stop Kaka bid

Manager must know it is not yet time to bid for the Brazilian and that such a high-profile new arrival will only add to club's woes

• Manchester City's limitless riches start to tempt Kaka

• City may need to adapt more than the magical Brazilian

• Media call Kaka bid ‘madness’ and ‘unrefusable’

BACKGROUND

• Kaka: superstar with vision but no vices

• Italian media aghast at City's Kaka offer

• Analysis: Oliver Kay

• Man City launch £91m Kaka bid

Multimedia

• Debate: is the Kaka bid marvellous or madness?

• Times Archive: Manchester City

BACKGROUND

• City Kaka quest shows new world order

• City may have to wait for Santa Cruz

• Hughes finds clubs adding 'City premium'

• Hughes told his job is safe by City owners

As for City’s forwards, Robinho and Jô should know their compatriot’s game, while, after playing for AC Milan with Andriy Shevchenko and Filippo Inzaghi, Kaká might enjoy having youthful forwards with pace in front of him — the immensely promising Daniel Sturridge springs to mind.

One other City employee could come into his own: the club chaplain. Kaká’s devout Christianity would not be a problem for the club, but it might be for the player — over the seasons, City have caused plenty of people to question their belief in a higher power.