Milan could bring back Beckham

AC Milan could sign David Beckham on loan again next year if his two-month spell with the club goes well, chief executive Adriano Galliani said on Saturday. Beckham, who will join the Serie A side in January from his MLS team Los Angeles Galaxy, flew into Milan early on Saturday with his wife Victoria.

The 33-year-old England midfielder had a medical. "We hope Beckham leaves an indelible mark. Next year we could repeat the experience, maybe for longer," Galliani told Milan's television channel.

Beckham, who has 107 England caps, is making the move to try to boost his international career during the U.S. close season as he bids to surpass Bobby Moore's outfield record of 108 caps. Galliani had previously hinted that Beckham may want to spend more than two months in Serie A but the chief executive played down the speculation. "David Beckham will stay with Milan up to March 9," he said. "The last match is Milan v Atalanta on March 8. I don't want to delude anyone."

Beckham will wear the number 32 jersey for Milan. He will stay in Milan to watch the club's match against Udinese at the San Siro on Sunday before leaving Italy on Monday. He will return on Dec. 29th and join his new team-mates on the club's winter training camp in Dubai before trying to force his way into the Milan first team, something he admits won't be easy.

"It will be difficult to get in the team as it always is at a big club," he said. "But right now I'm in better form than was expected of me. I hope to train hard with my new team-mates. But I don't want to upset the balance that's already here, I want to help the team. There are players such as [Paolo] Maldini, Ronaldinho and others here. Players that I have admired and tried to copy. I don't expect to arrive here and change everything. It's a great opportunity for me and I hope to have fun."

Many people were eagerly waiting to see what number Beckham would be given but the Galaxy number 23 said there was no significance behind his choice of the number 32. "I chose it because it was the first one they offered me," he said. "I wasn't thinking about any particular number."

Beckham also revealed that he had sought the advice of Italian England boss Fabio Capello, under whom Beckham also worked when playing for Real. "He has been and is someone I have a lot of respect for. When I thought about this move I asked him for his advice. I had said I preferred joining Milan but I wanted to play in Italy because I wanted to play at the top level. And Capello was fundamental. It's right that he only picks me if I'm playing for my club. But he asked me to only play at the top level. This is an exceptional team, you just have to look at the career of Maldini. I already love this team and I want to get to know the country better as well."

Beckham could make his debut as early as Jan. 11 when Milan travel to AS Roma but he will only be available until March 8 when his loan period ends and he will return to Los Angeles Galaxy for the start of the new MLS season.

Galliani said there had been many obstacles to overcome in order to secure Beckham's signature. "We've overcome problems that were infinitely bigger than when we buy a player," he said of the loan deal. "We resolved problems with the American League, Galaxy, all Beckham's entourage . . . it was something incredibly complicated and we even had to get Figc (Italian League) president (Giancarlo) Abete to intervene."

Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti said Beckham would have to earn his place in the team, despite a long-term injury to key central-midfielder Gennaro Gattuso. "He's a very serious professional and we all welcome him: the club, the fans and the players," Ancelotti said. "He can play anywhere across the midfield and a lot has been said about his free-kicks but the important things is the way he trains. And if he deserves to play, he will play. Is it a strange signing? Well only because it's never been done before but personally I'm very happy that he's here."

Ancelotti is still complaining about the club's injury problems despite Kaka's return to the side as he is still without Alessandro Nesta, Marco Borriello, Mathieu Flamini and is sweating on the fitness of Andrea Pirlo, Clarence Seedorf and Emerson. "We have to win despite the many problems and absences we have," he said. "[Beckham] won't be a distraction, today and tomorrow we won't have anything else in our heads [other than Udinese]."