Beckham set to seal Milan switch

AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani claims David Beckham’s return to the San Siro is “more or less a done deal”.

It has long been expected that the Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder would return to Milan to keep his fitness levels up and remain in Fabio Capello’s England squad for the World Cup.

Beckham said after England’s 3-0 win over Belarus last night that the deal was “95 per cent done” and Galliani agrees.

“It’s more or less a done deal,” he told Corriere dello Sport. “It’s 95 per cent likely he’s coming back to us.”

Beckham moved to the San Siro during the Major League Soccer off-season last January, initially on a three-month loan deal, but impressed so much his stay was extended until the end of the Serie A campaign.

Milan midfielder Clarence Seedorf would be delighted to count on the 34-year-old as one of his team-mates once again.

He said: “Beckham can certainly help Milan. I would be happy if he returns.

“We became friends during his loan spell here, and for that reason it would make me happy to see him return.

“I have been in contact with him several times and, if the deal can be done, it will be good for Milan and for him too because it would be a pity not to see him in the World Cup.

“He is a player who has already given an important contribution to Milan and I am convinced that he would continue to do so if he returns to Milan.”

Meanwhile, Galliani has been left fuming at the news defender Oguchi Onyewu could be out of action for up to four months after getting injured on international duty.

Onyewu hurt his left knee playing for the United States during Wednesday night’s World Cup qualifier against Costa Rica and will undergo tests in the coming days to determine the extent of his injury.

The 27-year-old, who signed a three-year contract with Milan this summer, could face a lengthy spell on the sidelines if a rupture is confirmed.

Galliani has revealed they could pursue the US football federation for compensation.

He said: “Now it’s enough, we are punished for sending champions to the national teams.

“They don’t pay and then when the players get injured it’s us who have to suffer the consequences.

“The lawyer Cantamessa is studying whether there is the possibility to ask for compensation related to his wages for the time he’s sidelined.”