Star on loan for fitness

Beckham gets OK to join AC Milan

MILAN - David Beckham will join AC Milan in January on a three-month loan from the Los Angeles Galaxy to maintain his fitness and prolong his career with the English national team.

The former England captain's stint in Serie A will begin Jan. 7, and he will rejoin his Galaxy teammates in March.

"He will have to go back to Galaxy by the time the MLS starts, and training before that," Milan sporting director Umberto Gandini said yesterday. "David is committed to the LA Galaxy and the MLS. Only David knows his future, but for sure he has a commitment to go back to the MLS and fulfill that."

Milan vice president Adriano Galliani said an agreement was reached yesterday with Beckham's lawyers, although a contract is still to be written.

The 33-year-old midfielder is eager to play in Europe during the MLS offseason to remain fit and available for selection for England, which plays an exhibition at Germany Nov. 19 before World Cup 2010 qualifying resumes in March.

Coach Bruce Arena declined to say what the Galaxy will get in return for lending Beckham to AC Milan, and that the loan was never sought for longer than three months.

"The terms of the agreement will remain confidential," Arena said on a conference call with reporters.

"In my view, this on the part of David was a purely technical rationale. He wants to continue to play for England. He wants to be in a good environment . . . and what better environment can you be in than AC Milan?"

The Galaxy coach added that he wasn't overly concerned that Beckham would get injured.

"When players don't go 100 percent, they get hurt. David is a very experienced player and knows when to go for challenges and when not to," Arena said.

Beckham is one appearance away from matching the record 108 for an outfield player - held by 1966 World Cup-winning captain Bobby Moore. Goalkeeper Peter Shilton holds the overall England record of 125.

"Milan has made a good acquisition," said England manager Fabio Capello, who also coached Beckham at Real Madrid. "In Madrid, I dropped him from the team because he signed with Los Angeles. But he continued to come and train and I put him back on the team."

Beckham will likely undergo medical tests Dec. 20 and be introduced a day later, when the club will unveil his jersey number. He is set to travel with Milan to Dubai for a midwinter training camp, which includes an exhibition.

Beckham's first competitive game for Milan could come in the capital against AS Roma Jan. 11.

He will become the first English player to play for the club since 1987, when Ray Wilkins and Mark Hateley left the club.

Beckham starred for Manchester United and Real Madrid before joining the Galaxy in January 2007 in a five-year deal.