David Beckham scored his first goal for AC Milan in late January against Bologna and sparked a further flurry of speculation that he may extend his stay with the Rossoneri. Originally Beckham committed to a 10 game loan for the Serie A club over two months during the Major League Soccer break. However, AC MIlan are sending out strong messages that they are considering making the move permanent. Adriano Galliani, AC Milan's general manager, has made it abundantly clear that the Italian club are interested in meeting Beckham's representatives to secure his services beyond the March 9 loan deadline. "We will buy him if he frees himself," Galliani says.
So will the lure of continuing to play with one of the biggest clubs in Europe and with some of the world's greatest players such as Kaka, Ronaldinho and Pato, prove too much a temptation for the 33 year-old? Firstly, it is worth considering why Beckham joined LA Galaxy originally. He has always maintained that the main motivation for joining the MLS was to generate a higher level of interest in the game amongst the American public. "The challenge is to go over there and prove to people what a great game soccer is," he said at the time of his move to the US.
Putting aside the financial implications, which although significant should not play too large a part for someone of Beckham's considerable wealth, a key factor is whether he feels that he has made a difference to the image and acceptance of soccer in the time he has been in LA. Looking at the attendances for MLS in 2008, Beckham's first full season, whilst LA Galaxy experienced an increase of 7%, the league as a whole suffered a 2% drop. So although Beckham might have been instrumental in creating a slight buzz in Southern California, he does not appear to have had too much an impact on a national scale. So in terms of his avowed objective of converting Americans he has so far come up short and the signs are not particularly encouraging.
When questioned, Beckham has repeatedly asserted that he intends to return to Galaxy. But in one of his latest statements he leaves the issue open to interpretation. "The contract and the agreement is that I'll go back to LA in March. I'm going to enjoy it (his spell with AC Milan) up until then and we'll see." The determining factor in his decision will probably be based on professional pride and where he will be best served in extending his England career. If he returns to the MLS he may jeopardise his chances of staying in Capello's thoughts as he continues to build his team in preparation for 2010 World Cup. Alexi Lalas, the former general manager of LA Galaxy, has implied there is a real chance that Beckham will stay in Milan beyond March and cut his ties with Galaxy. With South Africa just over a year away, one could hardly blame him for turning his back on the US.
