David Beckham Zone

Siesta Time!

2009-04-27T20:21:00.000+00:00

Well I think this may be the end. My heart has gone out of the blogs and I'm not sure if I'm gonna continue with them or not. Why? Well Freddie is at Seattle Sounders who I just can't get into - just don't like the colour of their kit for a start. Smudge is always on the bench at Newcastle and there's just no news. Only Beckham is peaking my interest at the moment with him being at Milan so I may keep this one updated.

It's also a time thing and these days I feel like I am doing it just for the sake of it. The blogs are just getting stale without constant updating and as a result the number of visitors is falling and the comments and feedback have almost dried up.

So I'm taking a break. I'll just follow the guys myself. The blogs will stay up for a while if people still want to look around them until I decide what I'm gonna do.

Take care

Paul

New Motorola Aura

2009-04-17T17:50:00.002+00:00

David Beckham appears Terminator like in a new advert for the Motorola Aura mobile phone. Cool!

Making of....

Match Report: England 2 - 1 Ukraine

2009-04-02T19:25:00.004+00:00

England 2 - 1 Ukraine
World Cup 2010 Group 6 Qualification

England: James, Johnson , Ferdinand (Jagielka 88), Terry, Cole, Lennon (Beckham 57), Lampard, Barry , Gerrard, Rooney, Crouch (Wright-Phillips 79).
Subs Not Used: Foster, Lescott, Carrick, Agbonlahor.

Booked: Barry, Johnson, Beckham.
Goals: Crouch 29, Terry 85.

Ukraine: Pyatov, Yarmash, Mykhalyk , Chigrinsky, Shevchuk, Aliev, Slyusar (Kalinichenko 88), Tymoschuk, Valyaev (Nazarenko 61), Voronin (Shevchenko 55), Milevskiy.
Subs Not Used: Bogush, Kucher, Rusol, Seleznyov.

Booked: Mykhalyk.
Goals: Shevchenko 74.

Attendance: 87,548

Referee: Claus Bo Larsen (DEN)

Match Stats
	England	Ukraine
Shots (on Goal)	11 (4)	7 (4)
Fouls	12	16
Corner Kicks	5	0
Offsides	2	1
Time of Possession	59%	41%
Yellow Cards	3	1
Red Cards	0	0
Saves	3	3

Beckham reaches new caps landmark

2009-03-29T14:46:00.004+00:00

David Beckham became England's most capped outfield player when he made his 109th international appearance in Saturday's friendly against Slovakia.

He came on as a half-time substitute at Wembley to surpass the previous record of 108 caps he shared with Bobby Moore.

Beckham, who became England's second-most capped player in the process, marked his achievement by setting up Wayne Rooney for England's second goal.

Only goalkeeper Peter Shilton, with 125, has made more England appearances.

"Obviously it is a very special occasion for myself, to reach this amount of caps and to be up there just above Bobby Moore," Beckham, who replaced Aaron Lennon, told BBC Radio 5 Live.

"I am very proud of that, but the most important thing was the way we played and the performance we put in.

"Overall, it's a good night for myself but a better night for the team."

England warmed up for their World Cup qualifer with Ukraine on Wednesday by beating Slovakia 4-0 thanks to goals from Emile Heskey, Rooney (2) and Frank Lampard.

After Heskey had put the home side in front after just seven minutes, Rooney headed a second from Beckham's cross on 70 minutes.

"It's what I've done throughout my career," said Beckham, reflecting on his part in the goal. "If I get a chance, there's players like Wayne Rooney, Emile Heskey or Peter Crouch on the end of it. If I can assist in that way, then great."

Rooney hailed Beckham's impact and praised his record-breaking feat.

"David has set me up for a few goals, so I have to thank him for that," said the Manchester United striker.

"It is a great achievement. All of the players are really pleased for him. You could see how much he is loved by everybody, the players and the fans."

England captain John Terry added his praise for Beckham, saying: "He comes on and always makes the difference - that is the quality he brings to the squad.

"David has determination and fight, and can go on forever. He has given the manager food for thought, that is for sure."

Beckham admitted he would prefer to be in Fabio Capello's team from the start but said he could still play a key role off the bench.

"Substitutes can be very important in the game. We saw that in 1999 with Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer," he said, harking back to Manchester United's spectacular win over Bayern Munich in the Champions League final.

"Everybody wants to start for England. If I start, then I start, if I don't, then I'm part of a good team going forward.

"The target is just to play, be involved in every game possible. I have already said I'd love to play in another World Cup - or two - but we will have to wait and see. That is a long way away at the moment."

Beckham joined Serie A giants AC Milan on an extended loan from American outfit Los Angeles Galaxy in a bid to prolong his international career and improve his chances of making England's squad for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

The former Manchester United and Real Madrid midfielder, will return to Major League Soccer in June for the second half of the season before rejoining Milan in November.

Source: BBCi

Match Report: England 4 - 0 Slovakia

2009-03-29T14:07:00.002+00:00

England 4 - 0 Slovakia
International Friendly

England: James (Foster 46), Johnson, Upson, Terry, Ashley Cole, Lennon (Beckham 46), Lampard, Barry, Gerrard (Downing 46), Heskey (Carlton Cole 15), Rooney, Carlton Cole (Crouch 34), Crouch (Carrick 74).
Subs Not Used: Green, Jagielka, Lescott, Baines.

Goals: Heskey 7, Rooney 70, Lampard 82, Rooney 90.

Slovakia: Senecky, Pekarik, Valachovic, Skrtel, Cech (Jendrisek 46), Sestak (Jakubko 72), Zabavnik, Karhan (Strba 83), Kozak (Sapara 62), Hamsik (Mintal 79), Vittek (Holosko 46).
Subs Not Used: Mucha, Cisovsky, Kratochvil, Dobrotka, Obzera, Kamenar.

Booked: Sapara.

Attendance: 85,512

Referee: Alain Hamer (LUX).

Match Stats
	England	Slovakia
Shots (on Goal)	18(9)	6(3)
Fouls	5	13
Corner Kicks	10	5
Offsides	6	0
Time of Possession	55%	45%
Yellow Cards	0	1
Red Cards	0	0
Saves	3	5

Becks: 'I'll Act As Crazy Rooney's Minder'

2009-03-27T09:51:00.001+00:00

David Beckham says he is ready to act as Wayne Rooney's minder to keep the fiery England striker out of trouble.

England coach Fabio Capello called Rooney a "crazy man" after the Manchester United star's petulant red card in their defeat against Fulham at the weekend.

Capello's joke hinted at concern that a lack of discipline could damage England's hopes of a successful World Cup campaign in South Africa next year.

Rooney has often struggled to control his temper with England and was sent off for stamping on Ricardo Carvalho in the 2006 quarter-final defeat against Portugal.

But Beckham knows from personal experience how the red mist can descend following his costly red card for kicking Diego Simeone in the 2002 World Cup defeat to Argentina.

He believes it is impossible to completely tame Rooney - and says his temper is part of his brilliance.

But he is keen to keep an eye on his England team-mate so he can avoid on-pitch explosions that could lead to more sendings off.

"If you take that side of him out of his game he becomes a different player and a different animal," Beckham said.

"There's no way you want to take that out of him. He knows it's not right.

"It's happened a few times with myself... as an experienced player you tend to notice those things more when you are a bit older.

"You see players' reactions and see what can happen next.

"I've seen it with some of the best players in the world. Look at (Zinedine) Zidane, you could see it in his eyes sometimes in games.

"You know what's going to happen. It's all about the passion, which is the biggest thing."

He added: "You can try to get to him in time as a team-mate, but some things are uncontrollable."

England are playing Slovakia in a friendly at Wembley on Saturday.

And Beckham will earn his 109th cap if he plays - making him the country's most-capped outfield player.

Source: Sky Sports

Beckham plays down England record

2009-03-27T09:35:00.002+00:00

David Beckham says he is more interested in getting England to the 2010 World Cup than breaking Bobby Moore's appearance record.

Former captain Beckham will become England's most capped outfield player by winning his 109th cap if he plays in Saturday's friendly against Slovakia.

But the 33-year-old said: "It would be special but I would rather get the team to the World Cup than anything else.

"When I was on 94 caps I never expected to make 100."

With Arsenal winger Theo Walcott ruled out through injury and Manchester City's Shaun Wright-Phillips struggling with an ankle problem, Beckham stands a good chance of figuring in coach Fabio Capello's plans for the friendly at Wembley as England prepare for Wednesday's World Cup qualifier with Ukraine.

Should he be chosen in the first XI it would be the 100th start of his England career, but it is a position he refuses to take for granted as just over two years ago his international career seemed over.

He added: "I didn't believe I would play for England once I was taken out of the team.

"When I was left out of the squad by [former coach] Steve McClaren I just allowed myself to be proud of the number of caps I had.

"As a young boy all I dreamed of was playing at Wembley and playing for my country, even if it was just the once.

"It was only when I got to 50 that I thought about reaching 100. But I definitely felt I would end up on 94."

Beckham's career has been revitalised by a loan move from Los Angeles Galaxy to AC Milan and it appears to have secured his short-term future in the squad.

If he stays fit throughout their World Cup qualification campaign - and the tournament itself should they qualify - he is in line to break Peter Shilton's all-time England record of 125 caps.

That landmark, though, is not something he is considering at the moment.

"Once we've qualified I need to stay fit and get in the squad," he said. "If that happens we will wait and see where I am on the caps front.

"If I break Shilton's record then great. If not we will have to see what the future holds."

Source: BBCi

Match Report: Napoli 0 - 0 AC Milan

2009-03-27T09:18:00.004+00:00

Napoli 0 - 0 AC Milan
Serie A TIM

Napoli: Navarro, Cannavaro, Contini, Santacroce, Blasi , Pazienza, Hamsik, Mannini, Grava, Lavezzi, Zalayeta (Bogliacino 90)
Subs not used: Pia, Denis, Bucci, Datolo, Russotto, Montervino

Booked:Blasi

AC Milan:Dida, Favalli (Senderos 72), Maldini, Pirlo, Jankulovski, Zambrotta, Seedorf (Kaka 57), Flamini, Beckham, Pato, Inzaghi (Ronaldinho 63)
Subs not used: Kalac, Anotonini, Shevchenko, Darmian

Attendance: 60,000

Referee: Andrea De Marco

Match Stats
	Napoli	AC Milan
Shots (on Goal)	13(4)	6(3)
Fouls	15	13
Corner Kicks	4	6
Offsides	4	3
Time of Possession	34%	66%
Yellow Cards	1	0
Red Cards	0	0
Saves	3	4

England Squad

2009-03-23T18:55:00.001+00:00

Fabio Capello has picked the England squad for the international friendly against Slovakia at Wembley on 28 March 2009.

Goalkeepers: David James (Portsmouth), Robert Green (West Ham United), Ben Foster (Manchester United)

Defenders: Leighton Baines (Everton), Phil Jagielka (Everton), Joleon Lescott (Everton), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), John Terry (Chelsea), Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United), Glen Johnson (Portsmouth), Matthew Upson (West Ham United), Ledley King (Tottenham Hotspur).

Midfielders: Gareth Barry (Aston Villa), Michael Carrick (Manchester United), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), Stewart Downing (Middlesbrough), David Beckham (AC Milan), Shaun Wright-Phillips (Manchester City), Aaron Lennon (Tottenham Hotspur), Steven Gerrad (Liverpool).

Forwards: Carlton Cole (West Ham United), Peter Crouch (Portsmouth), Emile Heskey (Aston Villa), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United).

Serie A Table

2009-03-17T01:02:00.001+00:00

POS	TEAM	P	W	D	L	GD	PTS
1	Internazionale Milan	28	20	2	6	30	66
2	Juventus	28	18	5	5	25	59
3	AC Milan	28	16	6	6	23	54
4	Genoa	28	13	6	9	10	48
5	Fiorentina	28	14	10	4	9	46
6	AS Roma	28	13	8	7	6	46
7	Palermo	28	13	12	3	2	42
8	Lazio	28	12	11	5	-1	41
9	Cagliari	28	11	11	6	4	39
10	Atalanta	28	12	13	3	2	39
11	Napoli	28	10	12	6	0	36
12	Udinese	28	9	10	9	-1	36
13	Catania	28	9	12	7	-5	34
14	Sampdoria	28	8	11	9	-7	33
15	Siena	28	8	13	7	-8	31
16	Chievo Verona	28	6	13	9	-12	27
17	Bologna	28	6	14	8	-15	26
18	Torino	28	5	14	9	-17	24
19	Lecce	28	4	13	11	-22	23
20	Reggina	28	3	14	11	-23	20
Table standings correct as of 17 March 2009

Match Report: Siena 1 - 5 AC Milan

2009-03-17T00:34:00.006+00:00

Siena 1 - 5 AC Milan
Serie A TIM

Siena: Curci, Brandao (Ficagna 49), Portanova, Codrea, Del Grosso, Zuniga, Kharja, Vergassola, Barusso (Ghezzzal 55), Calaio (Amoruso 70), Maccarone
Subs not used: Coppola, Eleftheropoulos, Rossi, Frick

Goals: Maccarone 62

AC Milan: Abbiati (Dida 12), Favalli , Maldini, Pirlo, Jankulovski, Zambrotta, Beckham, Ambrosini (Kaka 46) (Ronaldinho 72), Flamaini, Pato, Inzaghi
Subs not used: Emerson, Antonini, Shevchenko, Senderos

Booked: Ambrosini, Favalli
Goals:Pirlo 07 (pen), Inzaghi 45 & 71, Pato 55 & 78

Attendance: 15,000

Referee: Nicola Ayroldi

Match Stats
	Siena	AC Milan
Shots (on Goal)	15(3)	8(5)
Fouls	17	21
Corner Kicks	6	2
Offsides	5	9
Time of Possession	44%	56%
Yellow Cards	0	2
Red Cards	0	0
Saves	0	2

I can deal with booing - Beckham

2009-03-12T16:57:00.001+00:00

David Beckham insists he can handle any hostility from LA Galaxy fans when he returns to Major League Soccer.

The 33-year-old midfielder has upset some supporters with his desire to remain with AC Milan in Italy.

But he told BBC Sport: "The booing, the criticism, I've had it all before. That side of it doesn't bother me.

"Real football people will turn around and say 'he's passionate about playing for his country and knows what he needs to do to make that happen'."

Beckham had been scheduled to return to Galaxy on 9 March but wanted to make a permanent move to the San Siro.

After weeks of negotiations, he eventually settled for a dual contract after Milan baulked at the size of the transfer fee Galaxy were demanding - thought to be about £12m.

He will now return to Los Angeles on 10 July.

Beckham argues that he needs to be playing top-flight football in order to give himself every chance of winning a place in Fabio Capello's England squad for next year's World Cup in South Africa.

But former Galaxy general manager Alexi Lalas, who brokered the $250m deal that took Beckham to MLS in January 2007, says that reasoning will cut little ice with Galaxy fans.

"He'll get booed and it's of his own making," said Lalas.

But Beckham countered: "If I do get that, I'm sure my team-mates will rally round me."

He also insisted he was "committed" to the Galaxy and MLS and that he had missed his three sons while he had been in Italy.

Beckham said: "It's tough not spending time with them. I've missed two of their birthdays in the last few weeks.

"It is really hard because I'm so passionate as a dad as well and I miss them so much. They'll understand when they are big boys and they can say to their friends their daddy played for AC Milan, Real Madrid and Manchester United. They'll understand."

Source: BBCi

Smithy Meets Beckham

2009-03-12T16:45:00.004+00:00

This is soooo funny! Smithy does the England team talk!

Source: YouTube

Donate to Comic Relief

Beckham 'will be booed' - Lalas

2009-03-11T11:24:00.003+00:00

David Beckham can expect a rude welcome from LA Galaxy fans when he returns to the US, says the man who signed him.

Former Galaxy general manager Alexi Lalas brokered the $250m deal that brought the England star to Major League Soccer in January 2007.

But little more than two years later Beckham has dipped into his own pocket to extend his loan spell with AC Milan, a move that has hugely upset US fans.

"He'll get booed and it's of his own making," Lalas told BBC Sport.

"If he comes back this summer, as has been reported, I'm sure he'll do everything he can to help the team on the field.

"But I'm also sure there is something to be said for having players on your team who want to be there. I don't think that's too much to ask."

The 33-year-old Beckham is scheduled to return to LA in mid-July after taking a month's holiday following the end of the Italian season.

This means he will miss the first half of the MLS season and only be available for six home games in 2009 - not what the Galaxy had in mind when they agreed to let Beckham go to Milan on what was supposed to be a three-month loan in January.

But Beckham's determination to cement his place in England manager Fabio Capello's plans for the 2010 Fifa World Cup finals, and his belief that this could only be done by playing top-level football in Serie A, forced the US outfit into a corner.

Matters came to a head earlier this week when, with the deadline for his original return date looming, an unprecedented "timeshare" agreement was announced between AC Milan and the Galaxy.

The fact that Beckham was partially funding this unique deal himself left nobody in any doubt just how badly he wanted to stay in Italy - a far cry from the lofty ambitions to "break" soccer in America that he voiced back in 2007.

Those words and subsequent statements about his continued commitment to the Galaxy and the MLS, including his intention to buy a US team in the future, have been given short shrift by angry fans on internet message boards. The Galaxy's fans forum is almost unanimous in its opposition to Beckham.

But this is hardly surprising given the club's disastrous form since his arrival - form that cost Lalas his job in August - or the fact that Beckham earns $6.5m a season, over twice as much as the next best-paid player and over 43 times the league average.

Lalas, 38, understands the Englishman's desire to play in what will be his fourth World Cup but is sympathetic to the frustrations of the supporters.

"I don't begrudge him the opportunity to play in a World Cup and if he feels this is the most direct path to get to it, fine, I know what it means to represent your country," said Lalas, who was capped 96 times by the US in a career that included a two-year stint in Italy.

"But as long as he understands there are ramifications to these decisions.

"What it comes down to is that the Galaxy fans don't care if David Beckham plays for them or not. All they want is a winning team, that's what they're used to.

"And they have recognised that this craziness (surrounding Beckham's future) is detrimental to getting back to where the Galaxy needs to be.

"So he'll take some of the heat when he does come back, some of it deserved, some of it probably not. But this is sport and I'm sure he won't lose any sleep over it.

"Galaxy fans are a very knowledgeable and they recognise there has been good and bad in David coming to the team, but they just want a good team and the current situation is not ideal, to say the least."

Lalas, however, is convinced that the gamble to bring Beckham, who has just tied World Cup-winning captain Bobby Moore's record for outfield appearances for England, to America was worth it.

"Anybody who says that the signing of David Beckham has been failure is delusional and is not seeing the bigger picture," he said.

"His impact in terms of giving the Galaxy and the MLS a platform from which to spring to the next level cannot be overstated. He has brought incredible recognition and credibility to the league."

Source: BBCi

Beckham injures ankle in training

2009-03-11T11:22:00.002+00:00

AC Milan have revealed that David Beckham suffered an ankle injury during training on Tuesday.

The news comes only two days after the midfielder agreed to extend his loan from LA Galaxy until the end of this season, a move he part-funded himself.

"During today's training, David Beckham suffered a trauma to his right ankle," said AC Milan in a statement on the club's website.

"In the next few days his condition will be evaluated."

Milan have been hit by a spate of injuries in recent weeks.

Playmaker Kaka has been out with a foot injury since 7 February, while striker Marco Borriello and midfielder Gennaro Gattuso are injured.

Ronaldinho, Clarence Seedorf and Massimo Ambrosini are not fully fit.

Milan, currently third in Serie A, visit 15th-placed Siena on Sunday.

Source: BBCi

Beckham planning to buy MLS team

2009-03-11T11:18:00.001+00:00

David Beckham plans to exercise a clause in his contract allowing him to buy a Major League Soccer franchise at the end of his playing career.

The midfielder agreed a dual contract on Friday that will allow him to play for both AC Milan and LA Galaxy.

And he is already making plans for when his Galaxy contract ends in 2011.

"I have the right to own an MLS franchise, which I will action immediately after I have stopped playing," Beckham said.

Beckham reiterated his "commitment to develop soccer in the United States, which is something I am passionate about" and said his family will remain in LA.

There have long been rumours that Beckham has a clause in his Galaxy contract allowing him the first right of refusal on an MLS franchise at the end of his career.

This is the first time any of the parties involved have confirmed the existence of the clause.

If Beckham goes ahead with his plan to buy a franchise, the MLS would partner him with a patron with major financial clout.

The Seattle Sounders, whose majority owner is film executive Joe Roth, had to pay a $40m "franchise fee" to join MLS for the 2009 season.

The MLS also has a requirement that prospective franchises have a "soccer specific stadium" - which was waived in the case of Seattle - and Ottawa, for example, have vowed to spend $100m on a new stadium if they win a spot in the 2011 MLS.

On top of this outlay there would then be wage bill and running costs for prospective new franchise owners. Seattle's wage bill for the 2009 season is more than $3.3m (£2.4m).

The Sounders will become the 15th team in the MLS when they join the league this season, Philadelphia will join in 2010 and there are plans to add two more franchises in 2011.

Vancouver, Ottawa, Portland and St Louis are in the running for the 2011 places.

Beckham, who would probably enter a deal with his manager, Simon Fuller, would be unlikely to get involved with one of these bids.

Las Vegas and San Diego, who have long expressed an interest in joining MLS and are close to Beckham's LA base, would be more likely destinations.

Source: BBCi

Beckham does Sesame Street

2009-03-09T17:53:00.001+00:00

Source: YouTube

Match Report: AC Milan 3 - 0 Atalanta

2009-03-08T18:26:00.007+00:00

AC Milan 3 - 0 Atalanta
Serie A TIM

AC Milan: Abbiati, Maldini, Senderos, Pirlo, Zambrotta, Bonera (Antonini 84), Beckham (Viudez 90), Jankulovski , Flamini, Inzaghi (Shevchenko 80), Pato
Subs not used: Cardaccio, Dida, Darmian, Emerson

Booked: Bonera, Jankulovski
Goals: Inzaghi 07, 71 & 74

Atalanta: Consigli, Peluso , Talamonti, Bellini , Garics, Cigarini (Parravicini 76), Guarente (De Ascentis 60), Valdes, Pinto (Defendi 68), Plasmati, Padoin
Subs not used: Cerci, Coppola, Pellegrino, Capelli

Booked: Peluso, Bellini

Attendance: TBC

Referee: Daniele Orsato

Match Stats
	AC Milan	Atalanta
Shots (on Goal)	14(6)	20(6)
Fouls	19	13
Corner Kicks	1	7
Offsides	5	5
Time of Possession	50%	50%
Yellow Cards	2	2
Red Cards	0	0
Saves	6	3

Beckham happy with AC Milan deal

2009-03-08T18:22:00.002+00:00

David Beckham has hailed his special dual contract with AC Milan and LA Galaxy as a "dream deal".

The 33-year-old former England captain confirmed he would stay on loan at Milan until the end of the season before returning to the United States.

Beckham said: "I'm really grateful to the LA Galaxy and AC Milan for making this dream deal happen."

He will continue to develop the game in the United States saying: "This is something I am passionate about."

Beckham was scheduled to return to Galaxy on 9 March, but wanted to make a permanent move to the San Siro.

However the so-called timeshare deal means he will play for both.

Details on whether he will come back to Milan at the end of the Major League Soccer season in November are yet to be finalised but it is expected he will return to Italy, either in another loan deal or a full transfer.

Beckham is believed to have agreed a salary cut to ensure the move goes ahead.

He confirmed his family would remain in Los Angeles during his time in Italy, which is set to end on 30 June.

"My family is happy and settled and will remain in LA. The perfect result for 2009 would be for me to help Milan to reach the Champions League and for the LA Galaxy to make the play-offs and win the MLS Cup," he added.

The Englishman, who signed a five-year deal with Galaxy in January 2007, moved to Milan in January to stay fit during the MLS off-season and so maintain his bid for an England place.

But Milan have been so impressed with the former Manchester United and Real Madrid star that they moved to keep him for longer.

Beckham has scored two goals in nine Serie A games during his time with Milan.

The deal follows weeks of negotiations between the two clubs during which Milan baulked at the size of the transfer fee Galaxy were demanding - thought to be around £12m.

Beckham's desire to play for a top club in order to cement his place in the England squad for the 2010 World Cup finals led to him effectively funding the unique loan deal himself.

Source: BBCi

Beckham agrees deal to stay at Milan

2009-03-06T19:21:00.000+00:00

David Beckham will stay at AC Milan until the end of the season and will also play for the Italian giants for most of next season.

A unique 'timeshare' agreement has been agreed between LA Galaxy and Milan that will see the England midfielder divide his time between the two clubs.

It is understood that Beckham will return to the MLS between July and October, before returning to Italy in November, where he will remain until the end of the season.

The two clubs have been locked in negotiations to reach an agreement, with a fee for the former Real Madrid star difficult to agree on. It is understood that Galaxy were demanding £12m for Beckham's services.

Under the timeshare agreement it is thought that Beckham will fund much of the loan fee himself.

The news will delight Beckham who has been desperate to secure the deal, which he hopes will boost his England prospects.

Source: Independent

Beckham would cut salary to move

2009-03-05T18:17:00.001+00:00

David Beckham has agreed to take a salary cut as negotiations over a move from Los Angeles Galaxy to AC Milan go to the wire, BBC Sport understands.

Beckham, 33, is scheduled to return to Galaxy on 9 March, but the England midfielder wants to make permanent his loan move to Milan.

The deadline has put the pressure on all sides to conclude negotiations.

There is understood to be a significant sticking point, and Beckham's return to LA Galaxy remains a possibility.

The Major League Soccer side are sticking to their line that they expect him back on 9 March.

One possible resolution is for Milan to extend the loan until the end of the Italian season.

Beckham would then return to the Galaxy for the remainder of the MLS season, before heading back to Milan in November.

The Englishman, who signed a five-year deal with the Galaxy in January 2007, moved to Milan in January to stay fit during the Major League Soccer off-season and so maintain his bid for an England place.

Milan have been impressed with the former Manchester United and Real Madrid star, however, and are keen to make the move permanent.

Beckham has scored two goals in nine Serie A games during his time with Milan.

Source: BBCi

Match Report: Al Sadd 1 - 2 AC Milan

2009-03-04T23:20:00.005+00:00

Al Sadd Sports Club 1 - 2 AC Milan
Friendly - Doha Qatar

Al Sadd: Saqr (Zaidan 80), Rashed (Mohamed 77), Rabia (Nasser 46), Abdulmajed, Ayil; Feindouno, Abdulrab, Felipe (Afif 60), Mesaad; Khalfan (Al Haydous 60), Opoku (Soria 46) (Hamed 76)

Goals: Mohammed 37

AC Milan: Abbiati (Dida 46); Antonini (Darmian 46), Thiago Silva, Maldini (Bonera 16) (Senderos 46), Favalli; Beckham (Pirlo 46), Emerson (Viudez 60), Cardacio, Jankulovski (Zambrotta 46); Pato (Inzaghi 46), Shevchenko

Booked: Jankulovski
Goals: Pato 27, Antonini 38

Attendance: TBC

Referee: TBC

Milan hope for Becks loan extension

2009-03-02T22:16:00.002+00:00

AC Milan chief Adriani Galliani has confirmed the club are working hard to extend David Beckham's loan until June.

The Italian giants have been locked in talks for weeks over Beckham, and as Sky Sports confirmed on Monday, they were looking into the prospect of a 'timeshare' agreement.

Galliani has again confirmed Milan's intention to sign Beckham, but revealed their idea was now to extend his loan until June - after which point he will return to Los Angeles Galaxy, and then in January he will join the club for free as he has a clause in his contract which allows him to leave the MLS in November.

"I hope I succeed in sorting it out that he stays until 30th June," Galliani told the club's television station.

"After that he can go back to Los Angeles, before returning to us next January (Beckham will cost nothing come November 30).

"That is what we are trying to do. It is complicated as we always knew it would be, but we are still trying."

Beckham is due to report back to LA in just over a week's time but he remains hopeful he will be allowed to remain with Milan until the end of the season, at least.

No sale
Meanwhile, Galliani has confirmed there are no plans to sell the club.

Reports over the last few weeks have suggested that the San Siro outfit could be sold.

But Gallani has reiterated that the club's current hierarchy are happy.

"I reaffirm. Milan are not for sale. I've spoken with president Silvio Berlusconi and the shareholders are tranquil", he told Italian press.

Source: Sky Sports

Match Report: Sampdoria 2 - 1 AC Milan

2009-03-02T21:34:00.007+00:00

Sampdoria 2 - 1 AC Milan
Serie A - TIM

Sampdoria: Castellazzi, Lucchini, Accardi, Raggi (Gastaldello 71), Franceschini , Sammarco, Palombo , Pieri, Stankevicius (Padalino 84), Cassano (Marilungo 88), Pazzini
Subs not used: Dessena, Ziegler, Mirante, Da Costa

Booked: Franceschini, Palombo, Raggi, Padalino
Goals: Cassano 33, Pazzini 51

AC Milan: Abbiati , Bonera, Senderos , Zambrotta, Antonini (Inzaghi 45), Pirlo , Flamini , Jankulovski (Favalli 55), Beckham (Emerson 68), Pato, Seedorf
Subs not used: Shevchenko, Dida, Maldini, Favalli, Cardaccio,

Booked: Abbiati, Pirlo, Senderos, Flamini
Goals: Pato 80

Attendance: 25,000

Referee: Gianluca Rocchi

Match Report: AC Milan 2 - 2 Werder Bremen

2009-02-27T01:14:00.007+00:00

AC Milan 2 - 2 Werder Bremen
UEFA Cup (Round of 32 - 2nd Leg)
Werder Bremen win 3-3 on aggregate on the away goals rule

AC Milan: Dida, Zambrotta, Senderos , Maldini, Favelli (Jankulovski 77), Beckham, Pirlo , Ambrosini, Seedorf (Flamini 54), Pato, Inzaghi (Shevchenko 62)
Subs not used: Abbiati, Kaladze, Bonera, Antonini

Booked: Pirlo, Senderos
Goals: Pirlo 27 (Pen), Pato 33

Werder Bremen: Vander, Fritz , Mertesacker, Naldo, Pasanen (Boesnich 67), Tziolis, Frings, Ozil (Jensen 90+1), Diego, Almeida (Rosenberg 61), Pizarro
Subs not used: Mielitz, Prodl, Baumann, Harnik

Booked: Fritz, Ozil, Rosenberg
Goals: Pizarro 68 & 78

Attendance: 23,280

Referee: Jonas Eriksson (SWE)