Milan still hopeful of Beckham deal

Milan still hope to sign David Beckham from Los Angeles Galaxy permanently and view the deadline imposed for a deal by Major League Soccer (MLS) as a "tactic", chief executive Adriano Galliani said yesterday.

The England midfielder, on loan to Milan until March 9, has said he wants to stay at the Serie A club but the Friday deadline passed without agreement. Galaxy said they now expect him to return next month.

"Today's deadline imposed by Major League Soccer commissioner Don Garber regarding a resolution of David Beckham's potential transfer to Milan has passed and we did not receive an acceptable offer for the player," Galaxy general manager Bruce Arena said in a statement.

"As a result, David remains an LA Galaxy player and we look forward to having him back with the club starting March 9."

But Galliani is still hopeful.

"In the meantime Beckham is here at Milan, we'll see what happens in a month or so," he told Sky television.

"It's a tactic," he added when asked about the deadline.

Italian media speculated that a deal could still be reached by the parties irrespective of the arbitrary deadline set down by MLS during the week.

Beckham is set to play in his first derby against Serie A leaders Inter at the San Siro tonight and coach Carlo Ancelotti hopes it will not be his last.

"I cannot know if it will be Beckham's last derby," Ancelotti told a news conference yesterday.

"My hope is that he can play lots more with the same shirt. At the moment he's an indispensable player for Milan."

Beckham's spokesman said the player and his advisors will consider their position after the Inter game.

"David is focused on the Milan derby this Sunday. We will be addressing this early next week," Simon Oliveira told Reuters yesterday.

Beckham has the option of buying out his contract and has a clause which means he can leave Galaxy for nothing in October.

Since arriving in Italy, he has scored two goals in his first five starts and has revelled in the company of world-class players.

Beckham, who equalled Bobby Moore's England record of 108 caps for an outfield player when he came on as a substitute in Wednesday's 2-0 loss to Spain, referred to the mounting frustration he had experienced playing for the Galaxy.

"The US championship is young," he said.

"I think it will take 10 years more to hit big targets. I must admit that, having played in Europe, sometimes it has been frustrating to take part in certain games."