Brazilian footballing legend Kaka has opened up about his failed spell at Real Madrid under Portuguese coach Jose Mourinho.

Kaka won the Ballon d'Or in 2007 - the last player to do so before Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi made the award their own.

He was considered one of the finest players in the world when he moved from AC Milan to Real Madrid for €67m in 2009.

Sadly, things did not work out terribly well for Kaka in La Liga.

Overshadowed by Cristiano Ronaldo - and later Mesut Ozil - Kaka played only 85 league games in four years at Real Madrid.

The 35-year-old retired from professional football in 2017 after ending his career in the MLS with Orlando City.

Kaka won two trophies during his time at Real Madrid but never managed to adapt to life in the Spanish capital.

Kaka reveals why he "could not work with Mourinho"

Wherever he has gone, Mourinho has a habit of upsetting big-name players.

Luke Shaw, Paul Pogba and Anthony Martial have each endured a strained relationship with the Portuguese coach at Man United.

Previously, club legends such as Juan Mata and Iker Casillas have found themselves sitting on the bench under Mourinho.

In a new interview with Brazilian media outlet UOL Esporte, Kaka has revealed when he realised he couldn't work with Mourinho.

"In 2009 I accepted the proposal of Real Madrid, but I was completely destroyed there because I could not give what I had given Milan, I was completely lost," he said to UOL Esporte, as per Marca.

"Jose Mourinho was a difficult coach for me - we had a respectful but complicated relationship.

"When I thought he would give me a chance, I couldn't prove to him that I was in good shape.

"I trained, I fought and I prayed a lot, but having not received the confidence of the coach, I realised that I could not work with him.

"The joy I had was to receive a message when he left Real Madrid and said that I was one of the most professional players he worked with."

Mourinho showed no confidence in Kaka - but the Brazilian is just one name on a long list of world class players to struggle under the 55-year-old coach.

According to The Telegraph, Man United players were recently 'stunned' by Mourinho's public humiliation of Shaw.

Some of his United teammates reportedly believe the 22-year-old is being 'bullied' by the former Chelsea and Real Madrid coach.

Mourinho certainly has a unique style of management - but it's hard to argue with his trophy record.