[Warchant]

AC Milan chief executive Adriano Galliani has said that he expects David Beckham's future to be decided on Friday.

Beckham is less than halfway through a five-year contract with Major League Soccer's Los Angeles Galaxy franchise, but is currently on loan to the Serie A giants and has said he wants to remain in Italy permanently.

The MLS set a deadline of last Friday for an agreement to be reached for the 33-year-old to complete a full transfer, but with no deal done, the Galaxy have insisted that Beckham should return to L.A. for pre-season training on March 9 as per the terms of his two-month loan deal.

However, Milan are still confident of reaching a deal and talks are expected to resume later this week.

"There is still a bit of distance but Friday could be the decisive day for Beckham," Galliani told reporters as Milan flew out for Wednesday's UEFA Cup clash at Werder Bremen. Beckham, who has recovered from a minor hamstring injury, travelled with the Milan squad.

Galliani added: ''We are negotiating and trying to resolve the problem. Between our offer and their (the Galaxy's) request there is still a margin but the will of the player is to remain. We will have to wait and see how this situation develops - there is still time.''

Various figures have been bandied about in the media after Milan's opening offer of €5m ($6.3m) was turned down. Milan-based sports paper Gazzetta dello Sport report that the Galaxy want €10m - double what the Serie A club has offered to date.

Beckham, who has impressed during his performances in Serie A - scoring twice and setting up two goals - does not believe Sunday's 2-1 defeat in the Milan derby will hurt his chances of a permanent transfer despite the loss leaving the Rossoneri 11 points behind Inter Milan in third place in the standings.

''I am disappointed because our hopes of winning the Scudetto are truly minimal,'' said Beckham. ''But this doesn't alter our plans. I know that Milan want me until the end of the season.''

[Warchant]

LOS ANGELES (AP) - David Beckham will remain on loan with AC Milan for the remainder of the season.

The Los Angeles Galaxy announced late Saturday that it had struck a "multimillion dollar deal" to enable the former England captain to remain with the Italian Serie A club until the season ends, then return to the Galaxy in July.

The Galaxy had sought $10 million for the outright purchase of Beckham, but Milan officials had offered $3 million. The two sides were negotiating for weeks and reached agreement on the loan extension hours before it was due to expire after Milan's game with Atalanta on Sunday.

"I'm really grateful to the L.A. Galaxy and AC Milan for making this dream deal happen," Beckham said in the statement.

"It allows me to play for AC Milan and the L.A. Galaxy in the same year, and also to continue my commitment to develop soccer in the United States, which is something I am passionate about."

The announcement came three weeks after Major League Soccer's Feb. 13 deadline to resolve the situation.

"Much has been written and said but all along it has been our intention to keep David Beckham as a member of the Los Angeles Galaxy," Galaxy president and chief executive Tim Leiweke said in the statement.

"We are pleased he is returning and at the same time, we feel it is important to allow him to finish his run in Milan, as it has been a remarkable run."

The 33-year-old Beckham repeatedly said he wanted to stay with Milan to improve his chances of making England's team for next year's World Cup and described his experience there as "incredible."

Beckham has a five-year contract with MLS worth $32.5 million, and it includes a clause that would allow him to leave at the end of this year.

The Galaxy opens the MLS season on March 22. Beckham won't become eligible to play in league games until the international transfer window reopens on July 15.

That means Beckham's first game with the Galaxy will be July 16 against the New York Red Bulls, which will be moved up two days from its original date on the league schedule.

The change is necessary to accommodate another part of the deal, an exhibition between Milan and the Galaxy in Los Angeles on July 19.

Beckham won't count against the Galaxy's 20-man senior roster until he returns to the club in July, nor will he count against the club's salary budget until his return.

"I am confident that his presence will strengthen our roster in the last half of the season as we push for a playoff position," coach Bruce Arena said in the statement.

In a move to accommodate fans who endured the back-and-forth speculation on Beckham's future in Los Angeles, the team said it will cut ticket prices by an average of 10 percent.

Refunds, in the amount of the rollback, will be issued for anyone who has already purchased season or individual tickets, the team said.

Beckham said his ideal scenario for the year would be to help Milan qualify for next season's Champions League and for the Galaxy to make the playoffs and win the MLS Cup.