Football Talk - Ancelotti flattered by Beckham's Milan pledge - 09/03/09
David Beckham's claim that staying with Milan is ''a dream'' has been well received by the Serie A club's coach Carlo Ancelotti who has revealed the club is flattered by the 33-year-old.
On Sunday it was confirmed that Beckham has now agreed a deal that will see him stay at the San Siro until the end of June when he will return to the Los Angeles Galaxy. The former England skipper shone in Milan's 3-0 win over Atalanta on Sunday and he received a standing ovation as he left the field seconds before full-time.
Commenting on the deal in a statement posted on the Gazzetta dello Sport website, Beckham said: ''I'm grateful to both clubs for allowing this dream to come true.'' That sentiment has endeared Beckham to Ancelotti, who said: ''[Beckham] has said something important. It gives us at Milan a lot of satisfaction for a player of his stature and popularity to say such a thing.''
Beckham is thought to have included a personal financial sacrifice to join Milan, amounting to $3m. ''I've done really well in my career, I've played for so many great clubs and I've been able to help myself stay in Milan, if I can put it that way,'' he told Sky Sports News. ''My career has always been about playing football. People have talked about the money I've earned in my career but it's never been about money for me, it's always been about the football and my passion for football."
Beckham admits the chance to play for one of the biggest clubs in the world again was a big attraction, but his main motivation was his desire to play in another World Cup. "There are a few reasons, one because I am playing with one of the biggest clubs in the world, and playing with some of the best players in the world and I am passionate about doing that as I have done that throughout my career," he said.
"But the one that everyone talks about is that it gives me the chance to play in the 2010 World Cup and I have to do everything I can to be involved in that."
Despite his move away from MLS, Beckham insists he continues to be a fervent proponent of the game in the united States. "It won't happen over a year a two it will be five, 10 or 15 years. There is still a lot of hard work to be done but as long as it continues - if we have the success that we have had with attendances and their interest in the game continues to grow then that will be positive."
