Beckham faces up to life on the boos

David Beckham admits he will be targeted by angry Los Angeles Galaxy fans when he returns to the Major League Soccer club from AC Milan later this year.

Beckham agreed a deal to extend his loan with Italian team AC Milan until the end of the Serie A season in an attempt to stay in England coach Fabio Capello’s plans.

The former Manchester United star is desperate to play in next year’s World Cup in South Africa and believes he must play at the highest level possible to fulfil his dream.

But Beckham still has commitments to Galaxy and will return to California to play for the American side between July and October.

The 33-year-old knows he is in for a hostile reception in some quarters for his perceived snub of LA.

“I’m sure there will be a certain amount of criticism because people won’t understand why I want to stay here but we will have to see,” Beckham told Sky Sports News.

“Real football people will say ‘He’s passionate about playing for his country and knows what he needs to do to have the chance of playing in the World Cup’.

“To make myself available for 2010 I know what I have to do. The manager (Fabio Capello) always said I need to play at the highest level and this is one of the highest in Europe.

“Nothing is guaranteed in life and we have a lot of young players coming through, but I need to make sure I’ve given myself the best chance to be involved in it.”

Asked if he would definitely retire after the World Cup in South Africa, Beckham added: “No, I love playing for my country and I want to play as long as possible. I will be 35 by then but we will wait and see.

“A lot of people doubted me when I came back to play here, saying I wouldn’t get a game or any time on the pitch. Hopefully I’ve surprised a few people and I feel I’ve got a good few years left in me.”