Beckham: Milan move more to avoid layoff than for Fabio

David Beckham says his planned three-month loan to AC Milan in January is less about impressing England manager Fabio Capello than it is about the 33-year-old midfielder avoiding a long layoff.

Speaking before the Los Angeles Galaxy's season-ending Major League Soccer match here against Dallas, the English star said he wanted to play well before the US league's next season begins in late March.

“To be honest, it's more about me not having so much time off,” Beckham said. “I'm not thinking about the England situation.

“What I'm thinking about is the fact that my body has been programmed for the last 20 years to have three and a half weeks off during the summer during the off season.

“I wasn't happy having the amount of time off that I had last year so I joined Arsenal for a month and a half and now this year I've been given the chance to hopefully join up with Milan and train with them and hopefully play with them. So that's my plan.

“It's more about me keeping myself fit and then joining back up with the Galaxy for the MLS season.”

But the move will certainly enhance Beckham's chances of being selected to England's side by Capello ahead of South Africa 2010 World Cup qualifying next year.

Beckham, who signed a five-year deal with the Galaxy last year, said the AC Milan move has yet to be finalized.

“With respect to Milan, talks are ongoing and I'm not talking to anybody else,” Beckham said. “I'm 95 percent sure it will happen but it's not official yet.”

“I've been given the chance to go to Milan on loan for a few months and I'm honored. I've not personally spoken to anyone from Milan yet. A few people are doing that. I'm hopefully looking forward to it.”

Beckham, whose Galaxy failed to qualify for the MLS playoffs, looks forward to playing alongside such stars as Brazil's Kaka and Ronaldinho.

“Obviously, that's a huge bonus,” Beckham said. “There are so many great players there and you can learn from the experience of training with them, playing with them.

“I'm not going there thinking I'm going straight into the team but if I get the chance to play there it's going to be an incredible experience.

“I've been lucky to play with one of the biggest clubs in England and the world, in my eyes, at Manchester United and the same at Real Madrid and now to be given the chance to play with one of the biggest clubs, I think the biggest club in Italy, you know, I'm honored.”

Beckham cites the long career's of Cafu and Paolo Maldini as a sign AC Milan has the training facilities that would let him maximize his fitness and productivity.

“Their training facilities are second to none,” Beckham said. “I know their work ethic. They wouldn't have a player like Maldini and Cafu there for so many years and at the ages they are and still playing top-flight football if they didn't have an incredible training regime.

“I wanted to go somewhere like that, that gave me the chance to go there and stay as fit as possible and play great football, so hopefully I'm going to do that.”