Adidas Originals - David Beckham

Beckham wants to stay at AC Milan, leave LA Galaxy

GLASGOW, Scotland – David Beckham wants to leave the Los Angeles Galaxy and stay with AC Milan after his loan to the Italian club is scheduled to end next month.

The 33-year-old English midfielder announced his intentions Wednesday after playing in Milan's 2-2 exhibition tie at Glasgow Rangers. Beckham has scored twice for Milan and been included in the team's 25-man roster for UEFA Cup games against Werder Bremen on Feb. 18 and 26.

His three-month loan is due to end March 8.

"At the moment my lawyers are not talking to the Galaxy," Beckham said. "But I have expressed my desire to stay at AC Milan now, and it's just down to Milan and Galaxy to come to an agreement."

"I have enjoyed my time here," he added. "I knew I would enjoy it but I didn't expect to enjoy it as much as I have and do as well as I have."

Beckham is about two years into a $32.5 million, five-year contract with Major League Soccer. The Galaxy had no immediate comment.

"At this point it's out of my hands," the 33-year-old star said. "I've said what my feelings are to both clubs."

Since coming to Italy, Beckham has scored twice and helped to lift Milan to second place in the Serie A standings.

"At the moment I'm still a Galaxy player," he said. "I respect the Galaxy and everything they have done for me. They have always been great to me."

Beckham needs one appearance to tie defender Bobby Moore at 108 for the second-most international games in English history, trailing only goalkeeper Peter Shilton's 125, and wants to play for England at next year's World Cup in South Africa.

"To be given the chance again to play at this level at my age is pretty incredible and I've enjoyed it so much I would like to continue it," he said. "I think people have seen the way I've been since playing at this level again."

"It's nothing against the MLS and the football over there because it's a game that will grow, but it will take quite a few years," he added. "I'm still confident that will happen eventually, but I want to have a chance of being involved in 2010 and I believe my best chance of doing so is to remain here."

Beckham included on AC Milan's UEFA Cup list

MILAN – David Beckham's impressive play for AC Milan has been rewarded with him being included on the team's 25-man roster for the UEFA Cup, with coach Carlo Ancelotti calling the player "indispensable" to his team.

With Beckham set to return to the Los Angeles Galaxy when his loan period finishes on March 8, he will only be eligible for two games against Werder Bremen on Feb. 18 and Feb. 26.

"We have included Beckham in the UEFA Cup list because he is doing very well. We want to take advantage of his form for the two games against Werder Bremen," Ancelotti said.

"Beckham is becoming an indispensable player for this team and he has earned it through his talent," Ancelotti added.

Since joining Milan, Beckham has scored two goals and set up two of Milan's scores in their 3-1 win over Lazio on Sunday night.

He has started all five matches since his arrival.

We're desperate to keep Beckham, admit Milan

by Barnaby Chesterman Barnaby Chesterman – Sun Feb 1, 9:27 pm ET

ROME (AFP) – AC Milan admitted that they're desperate to keep David Beckham at the San Siro, giving the former England skipper a resounding endorsement by adding him to their UEFA Cup squad.

Beckham played another starring role for Milan by setting up two of the three goals in a 3-0 victory over Lazio at the Olympic Stadium.

The win meant Milan remain unbeaten in the five matches since the 33-year-old joined on loan from Los Angeles Galaxy.

The former Manchester United and Real Madrid midfielder has also scored twice and such has been his influence that he has been included in the 25-man squad for the UEFA Cup knockout stages, even though he will only be able to play in the next round if he does return to the USA on March 9 as anticipated.

"We've put him on the UEFA list because we have a contract and he's doing very well," said Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti.

"I want to pick him for the two matches against Werder Bremen."

Vice-president Adriano Galliani has also been singing Beckham's praises.

"We're desperate to sign him and I will keep hoping until the last possible moment," said Galliani.

"When he first came to us I thought he would do well but I never thought to such a degree.

"It would be terrible to lose him so we'll make little overtures to try to keep hold of him and then our fans can have a great party when Beckham stays."

It's not just the club hierarchy who have been impressed with the former England captain's contribution, his team-mates have too.

Midfield playmaker Andrea Pirlo, who has had to give up much of the deadball duties to the new arrival, has only positive things to say about Beckham.

"He's an intelligent guy, he plays football on instinct, has fitted in well and is helping us out," said Pirlo.

Beckham has refused to discuss his long-term future, preferring to concentrate on helping his new team cut Inter Milan's six-point lead at the top.

"I love coming to Rome," said Beckham about his man-of-the-match performance in the capital.

"We needed to win this match so I'm very happy with that. It's important to keep the pressure on Inter because they're the leaders and they're playing good football."

With the Milan derby only two weeks away, that match could take on even greater significance if Milan can keep close to their city rivals, although Beckham said he and his team won't get ahead of themselves.

"It's important not to worry too much about other teams. If we win our games then we have a chance of catching the leaders," he added.

"It (the derby) is a big game and I'm looking forward to it but the most important game is next week's and when we've played that game we'll think about the derby."

Beckham hints at staying with AC Milan

ROME, Italy (AFP) – David Beckham left the door open to a possible long-term stay at AC Milan after scoring his first goal in Italian football in a 4-1 win at Bologna.

The victory kept Milan in the title hunt, trailing leaders and city rivals Inter Milan by six points.

Playing only his third match for Milan, Beckham wrapped things up on the hour mark with Milan's fourth, a rocket that beat Francesco Antonioli at his near post.

"I feel very good here. I arrived in a team that wanted me for years and I play for exceptional fans," said the former England captain.

"I'll stay here until March and then we'll see. Right now I'm focussed only on my football."

Beckham linked up with his Milan team-mates at the end of December before joining them on a mid-season warm weather training camp in Dubai.

He joined on loan from LA Galaxy and his deal is due to run out on March 8, after which he is expected back in Los Angeles for the start of the new Major League Soccer season.

However, he has been an instant hit in Milan for his industrious play on the right side of a three-man midfield and now the former Manchester United and Real Madrid player seems to be considering a longer stay in the Italian financial capital.

On Sunday, he struck from about 15 yards out to the right of goal to net his first successful strike for Milan.

"It was a truly special goal, just as it is special for me to be playing here," he told RAI TV.

"The important thing was to win so now we are even more confident ahead of Wednesday's game (against Genoa)."

Milan have been a more balanced and effective outfit since Beckham joined, something they had lost since Gennaro Gattuso was injured.

Coach Carlo Ancelotti is keen to keep him at the club but admits that it is out of his hands.

"It's up to him what happens. Our hands are tied because he is locked into a very precise contract," said Ancelotti.

"But as long as we have him at our disposal I see no reason not to take advantage of that because he's giving us a lot."

It's not just Beckham's presence on the right side of a three man midfield that is working well for Ancelotti, but another switch also seems to have paid dividends.

Rather than playing Kaka behind Pato and Ronaldinho, Ancelotti has pushed Kaka further forward, dropped Ronaldinho to the bench and is playing veteran Dutch midfielder Clarence Seedorf in the hole behind the front two.

Massimo Ambrossini is bringing some steel to the midfield.

"Right now we're playing with great effectiveness because we're making the most of Kaka and Pato's pace," said Ancelotti.

"Seedorf gives us more cover (than Ronaldinho) but we haven't forgetten when the Brazilian was playing well over the first half of the season."

However, it seems the former Barcelona and Paris St Germain player is paying for poor discipline.

"He was the one who did the least work in Dubai but in the future he can once again play with and Pato Kaka," said the coach.

He may have to wait a while, though.

If things continue in this vein, Ancelotti, who celebrated 400 games in charge of Milan against Bologna, believes his side has what it takes to be champions for the first time since 2004.

"If we carry on along this path we can win the championship," he said. "The problem right now is finding consistency."

Beckham Proud Of First Milan Goal

David Beckham scored his first goal in Italy on Sunday in Milan's 4-1 win over Bologna, and Kaka added two more to keep the team in touch with Juventus and Inter Milan.

Pato provided the assist for 'Golden Balls' on the hour mark.

Beckham revealed, “It was a really special goal, and in the same way it is very special to play here. The most important thing was for us to win and now we have even more belief in ourselves ahead of Wednesday’s game.”

The midfielder added, “I feel really good here [at Milan]. I have joined a squad that has wanted me for years and for I play for exceptional fans. I will remain here until March and then I will see. For now I am only thinking about playing.”

Peter Pedroncelli, Goal.com

Milan’s Gattuso Impressed With Beckham

The injured Milan midfielder Gattuso has been impressed with England midfielder Beckham since his arrival at the Rossoneri, in which time he has been somewhat of a revelation at the club.
Gattuso is out for several months following an injury to his cruciate knee ligament suffered in December, but Beckham has come in to fill his place in the team and is quickly becoming a favourite for both the players and Milan fans. The former Manchester United and Real Madrid dead ball expert is on a two-and-a-half month loan from his current club LA Galaxy in the MLS, and is set to return to the United States in time for the start of the American season. Commenting on Beckham, Rhingio told Italia 1, “He's surprised me in a positive way. He's a great professional, he arrives at training two or three hours early. He's not Kaka but he's a great player. "He's playing in my position because I'm injured but we're completely different. For sure he sets up more goals than I do, but I win back more balls.” Peter Pedroncelli, Goal.com

Kaka 'wants to play at Real, says Beckham'

MADRID (AFP) – Brazilian midfielder Kaka, who rejected a record-breaking transfer from Manchester City, wants to play at Real Madrid next season, his AC Milan teammate David Beckham was quoted as saying Tuesday.

"Kaka wants to go to Real Madrid and not to City. I think he will become a Real player in June. I think someone has called him and that Kaka has made his decision," the former England captain told a friend recently, according to Spanish sports daily AS.

The paper said last week Kaka asked Beckham, who played for Real between 2003 and 2007, for information about the defending Spanish giants, the paper added.

Former Real president Ramon Calderon, who stepped down on Friday over allegations that he rigged voting at the club's last annual general assembly, promised to sign Kaka during his successful campaign to lead the club.

Real remains interested in signing the 26-year-old, according to AS.

"This is the best moment to recruit Kaka, he is the player who would benefit the team the most," an unnamed Real source told the newspaper.

Italian prime minister and AC Milan president Silvio Berlusconi said late Monday that Kaka had decided to stay with the Italian side, having rejected a bid from City that was said to be of 100 million pounds (111 million euros/147 million US dollars).

Kaka is under contract with Milan through 2013.