David Beckham's loan to Italy's AC Milan will not last long enough to keep the England star away from the Los Angeles Galaxy when the 2009 Major League Soccer season begins in March, the league boss says.
Don Garber, commissioner of the US football league, said in a statement that the anticipated loan of Beckham from the Galaxy to AC Milan would end in time for him to play for the Galaxy at the start of next season.
“Discussions have taken place between AC Milan and the Los Angeles Galaxy regarding the possibility of a short-term loan agreement that would allow David Beckham to play for AC Milan during the MLS offseason,” Garber said.
“Those discussions are ongoing. David remains an L.A. Galaxy player and will be here for the start of the 2009 MLS season.”
Despite having Beckham for a full season rather than his injury-ravaged 2007 US debut campaign, the Galaxy failed to qualify for the eight-team MLS playoffs. The club will conclude its season Sunday at home against Dallas.
AC Milan likely would have hoped to have Beckham longer as such a US return would pluck him from Milan in the final stretch of the Serie A season.
Beckham, 33, wants to stay fit in hope of playing for England, whose coach Fabio Capello wants the veteran playing for a club if he is to appear for the national team in key matches.
