Arsene Wenger ignored the chance to sign Kaka for Arsenal while he was still in the Sao Paulo youth system, it has been revealed.

Sandro Orlandelli tipped off Wenger in 2001 about Kaka during an informal stint with the Gunners.

The Athletic reports "Wenger asked him whether he knew any players in Brazil who might be a good fit for Arsenal's way of playing. Orlandelli thought about it, then gave him the name of a promising attacker in the Sao Paulo youth system.

"Wenger had never heard of him. Not then, at any rate. The player was Kaka."

The meeting took place in 2001 - two years before Kaka left Sao Paolo to join Milan, before he later became the world's most-expensive signing when transferring to Real Madrid 11 years ago to this day.