Seedorf backs Beckham to boost Milan

AC Milan midfielder Clarence Seedorf expects David Beckham’s return to the club to be a boon for both the Italian giants and the England star.

Beckham last week agreed a second six-month loan spell with the Rossoneri, starting in January, as the free-kick specialist tries to earn a place in England’s squad for next year’s World Cup finals in South Africa.

A similiar short-term deal last season rejuvenated the international prospects of Beckham, now a United States-based player with the LA Galaxy, under England manager Fabio Capello, the former Milan boss.

Dutch international Seedorf believes former Manchester United midfielder Beckham’s desire to play in another World Cup will work to Milan’s advantage.

“This is a very positive thing because it means that he’s highly motivated and he has to perform to be able to go,” Seedorf told Sky Sports on Monday.

“The fact that he’s going to play for a team in Europe doesn’t guarantee anything with Fabio Capello so he needs to perform well and that’s what he’s going to do, as he did when he came here last year.

“I am very pleased for him because I think it will be important for him to play at this level until the World Cup, to be able to enjoy that part of his career I know he would like to participate in.

“I think David is a very good player and he’s going to be fitter than he is now in the States, because the level is different and the training level is different. We are going to help him, he’s going to help us.”

Beckham will miss England’s trip to Doha to play Brazil on Saturday following the Galaxy’s 1-0 win over Chivas USA on Sunday to win their Major League Soccer Western Conference semi-final series, 3-2 on aggregate.

That victory means that Galaxy will host the Houston Dynamo in the Western Conference final next week ruling out the 34-year-old Beckham’s participation in the glamour friendly.

“We’re not going to get too excited. We’re happy we’re through and we deserve to be through but it’s another step forward to what we want to do,” Beckham told ESPN.

“It’s what we want to do for this franchise, everybody that’s supported us all the way through, they deserve this. The fans deserve this and the players definitely deserve it.”