Milan Vice-president Hopes for Long Beckham Stay

Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani hopes David Beckham will stay at San Siro beyond his short-term loan.

Under his current deal, Beckham will join Milan on loan from Los Angeles Galaxy until March, but Galliani said that could change if the midfielder enjoys his time in Italy. "I don't know how long his adventure [with Milan] will last," admitted Galliani to Sky Italia. "For the time being it will be two-and-a-half to three months. We hope he will fall in love and that sentiments prevail, but he has so many advertising contracts." Galliani did acknowledge, however, that commercial commitments would probably mean Beckham will return to LA. "At this time, it looks unlikely he will stay longer because I have seen his advertising contracts and they are scary."

Beckham is linking up with the Italian club to maintain his fitness during the MLS close season as he tries to retain his place in the England squad.

Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti has said in the past that he would like to sign Beckham permanently, but Galaxy and the midfielder have said he will return to the US in the spring for the start of the 2009 Major League Soccer season.

Galliani said the player will arrive in Italy later this month. "He's coming on Saturday [December 20], he'll do the medical examinations, the press conference and attend Milan v Udinese [on December 21]," Galliani was quoted as saying by today's La Gazzetta dello Sport. "He'll have seven days holiday and then this adventure will start in Dubai [at Milan's winter training camp). I don't know how long it will last. At the moment, it's just for two and half, three months."