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.''

yay! another friday deadline!

Couldn't he resolve the problem by the last deadline? I can see this transfer saga being dragged until August!

Boy, I'd sure like it more if they told us which 'Friday' they are talking about.

so...it's Friday...

It's Saturday here and in Italy.. total rubbish again from Galliani.

hey kurt, how much do you think young and agbonlahor go for if we bought them as a package. i mean 10 million should be wonders for a mid table club like aston villa.

You're right something doesn't seem right about this 'Friday' business.

Also don't they know you never do business deals on a Friday?

Because... ?

I guess it's just one of our crazy town superstitions? We've always been told don't start a job or make a business deal on a Friday because it's bad luck.

heard of "friday" the thirteenth! friday is also the day kaladze goes to work to get playing time hahah

When is this fcking circus going to be dealt with? is he staying, is he going?

he should go. We dont need him for next season. We need a new perspective on football. Under a new coach he probably will not play.

Hope we don't sign him.

I don't think he's ALL that necessary for next season (this season, considering our injury situation he'd be nice to have around!). But I'd feel sorry for him if he had to leave. He's been nothing but good for us, and he put his neck on the line, when he said he'd rather stay with Milan. LA will hate him if he returns.

And a footballer of his calibre doesn't deserve it. It's kinda like Michelangelo making a living off painting fences- for twice the money..but a fence is a fence.

It was his choice...

American fans won't care...they'll still come out in droves to watch him play

yup! Watch when he returns people will be begging for him and tom cruise in a photo.

he should just go...we've suffered enough..If he knows wats good for himself and whats good for milan that the fans he should leave...Beckham go pls go!!!

yeah hes already 33. He was good for the loan period. We should give him a good send off.

We should retired the number 32 and announce his last day in Milan, "Beckham Day", a national holiday for the region. He should also be given the key to the City.

Or! we won't do any of that and you'll have to start watching the American league if you want to watch him fanboy!

OR! I could watch the 2010 World Cup.. somewhere you won't be seeing Maldini!

You forced my hand, I had to retaliate!

ouch ouch ouch.... that hurts. But he has no place in the wc 2010. Unless winning the wc is not italy's goal.

Oh... England will qualify this time?

You say that like we've missed a World Cup lately! Of course we'll qualify.. well, a convincing win in our hardest game of the qualifiers, I should think we'll qualify.

You were owned, admit it!

I was not!

We have not failed to make a World Cup since I've started watching International football, get your facts right!

Yeah yeah OK!

ohh...good one

In my aspect, i'll prefer to see Ashley young or Lennon than Beckham...

Beckham has been horrendous since the Derby. If he is permanently signed then someone needs to be shot

WHAT?

Behold... the greatest show on Earth is in town... it's Galliani's circus AAA CCC MILLAAAAAAAAAAANNNN!!!

We can't be seriously trying to make such a deal! That's... damn it!

If were in uefa cup next season i think milan will be sold to sheiks. At the rate things are going someone will have to be made a scapegoat.

either carlo or berlu or players

Ro and her critter are not pleased about these developments

Ohdear. Fishdoll isn't sure he'd like to confront an angry Ro-Critter. Just look at those long and sharp teeth!

If this "time-share" agreement we supposedly have with the Galaxy becomes reality, I swear someone in management should be shot at.

will you do the honors?

I couldn't care less about next season. But we need him this season. Unless we'd like to see Senderos/Bonera play in the midfield as well.

Fishdoll doesn't have anything to worry about right now...but Galliani and Co sure do

Here in Los Angeles we're upset with Beckham. It's the beginning of our season and he's being a distraction from thousands of miles away. I wrote an article about how us Galaxy fans are going to react when he comes back. Feel free to pass this on to your AC Milan network of friends.

http://www.ehow.com/how_4823727_beckham-re...les-galaxy.html

I think this bit is a bit harsh.

It seems Landon Donovan is without blame in all of this, even though he went off to Europe as well. Is it Beckhams fault that Milan want to keep him? Not really. He's certainly raised the profile of football in the US, but some people didn't know what to expect from him and raised his expectations to an impossible level. I have one or two friend in alifornia who autmatically assumed that since Beckham is a great footballer, he was going to score stupid amounts of goals in every single game. 1 man doesn't make a team.

I think Beckham wants to stay just as much! in fact I think Beckham needs Milan more than the other way around.

I'm not sure about that to be honest. Beckham has all the money in the World and could easily move back to the Premier League if he's that desperate for first team football. The only reason he joined Milan was to stay in Fabio's plans while the MLS season was over, he doesn't 'need' Milan anymore.

Exactly.

Milan will not be serious about change as long as their fetish for used-up thirtysomethings continues.

They're called smarter friends. If you look around hard enough, you can usually find a few. And where the hell is Alifornia, sounds like some place out of LOTR.

The keyboard mis-spelled it, not me!

And you blame Carlo for not taking responsibility. Hypocrite!

It seems Becks is allowed to stay with us until the end of the season when he will go back to Galaxy and finish their season with them. He will then be able to come back to Milan in december for free. Apparently he has also taken a massive pay cut.

Now is the time where I pack critter, in his critter taxi, and we head to Milanello where I will then unleash him to reek havoc on fester (Galliani) ... If I'm gone for a while you'll know why