MLS sets deadline for Beckham transfer

The David Beckham –to-Milan saga will have a resolution soon, as MLS Commissioner Don Garber set a Friday deadline for any transfer to be approved by the league.  As the deadline approached, there was no indication of any significant news coming out of either Los Angeles or Milan.

Beckham is playing ‘on loan’ with Italian Serie A team AC Milan, but both he and the team want to make the move permanent.  Beckham has become a favorite with the Italian fans and revitalized his game with Milan, and he once again reiterated his desire to stay earlier in the week:

''Milan and Galaxy are negotiating and I hope I can remain in Italy.”

''I have already expressed my wish to remain in Milan and now I have to wait. Physically, I feel really good, I really like playing for Milan. Over the last month and a half my physical condition has improved 100%.”

''I have nothing against Galaxy, Los Angeles has been a wonderful experience. But at Milan I have found great players who have been of great help to me. For the time being things could not be going better”

AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelloti also advocating for Beckham to remain in Italy:

"In my opinion, in order to keep Beckham, sacrifices should be made because he is an important player for the team."

LA Galaxy President Bruce Arena has been accused to trying to ‘hold up’ Milan, with the team having reportedly rejected a 6.7 million Euro (over $8.5 million US dollar) transfer fee earlier this week.  Arena gave something of a ‘mealy mouthed’ answer when asked to comment on the negotiations:

''We will continue to examine this issue until the end of the week when the league has set a deadline for the transfer.”

''There are a variety of things we've discussed but it's not public information and when Milan give us what they feels is their best offer, we'll examine it and make a decision whether it's in the best interests of our club or not.”

''If David Beckham returns, he is a good professional and he's going to play, and play well.

''David Beckham understands what a contract means. He will honour his contract, whether it's with LA Galaxy or AC Milan.''

''David is a great player, we'd miss him if he leaves, no question about that. However it's a team sport and one player doesn't make a team. We'd be thrilled to have him return but if we lose Beckham, we lose him. That's football.''

Beckham has a clause in his contract that will allow him to opt out after the 2009 season regardless of how the current negotiations are resolved.