David Beckham set for AC Milan return

David Beckham has been granted his wish and will be allowed to leave Los Angeles Galaxy and play for AC Milan in January next year. Tim Leiweke, the chief executive of sports and entertainment giant AEG, which owns the American club, said yesterday at a conference in London that the former England captain would be permitted to return to the San Siro at the end of the US season in December in a bid to secure a berth in Fabio Capello's England squad for the World Cup.

Such a move, however, would see the 34-year-old play a year's football without a break as he would be expected to return to Los Angeles after the tournament in South Africa that ends in July. "We have a deep appreciation of what he is doing over here with his national team. We want to make sure he fulfills that dream [of appearing in the World Cup]," Leieweke said. "[But] we're not going to give him much time off [in 2010] - he's going to have to earn his keep."

Beckham joined AC Milan at the beginning of 2009, on the recommendation of the club's former manager Capello. Eager to keep Beckham open as an option for the national team, the Italian felt that skill levels in the American league were so low that the midfielder had to return to Europe to ply his trade in a major league. Milan, owned by Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi, were only to happy to welcome the player, who turned out 18 times for them, scoring twice and impressing with his fitness levels and skill.

The England player had wanted to remain in Serie A for this season, but found the cost of buying out his deal with the Galaxy too prohibitive, so returned to the MLS side. His summer machinations didn't endear him to the Galaxy faithful, however, and Beckham found himself jeered on his return to the team. On his first home appearance in July he confronted fans at half time who were demanding his sacking and had to be escorted from the pitch.

The contrast with Milan, where the adoring rossoneri called out his name from the terraces and he was feted on and off the pitch, couldn't be more jarring. The Serie A side has had a rough start to the season and new coach Leonardo, who took over in the summer and is rumoured to be on the verge of being fired, will take any strokes of luck that come his way. ·