Monday, Dec. 22, 2008

MILAN, Italy (AP) David Beckham insists this has everything to do with soccer and nothing to do with fashion and celebrity.

The 33-year-old midfielder also acknowledged on Saturday that playing for AC Milan on loan from the Los Angeles Galaxy is a gamble.

Beckham, a former star for Manchester United and Real Madrid, said the move fulfills his dream of playing with a top Italian team and his goal of staying in shape during the MLS offseason in an attempt to keep a spot on England's team.

"I wouldn't take this opportunity if I didn't think that I could help the team and help the club," Beckham said during his introductory news conference at San Siro Stadium. "There are some great players out there. I don't expect to be starting on the first day because it doesn't happen that way."

England coach Fabio Capello has said it is not enough for Beckham to train with AC Milan — he must also play to be considered for the national team.

"That is exactly the right thing a manager should do," Beckham said. "If any player is not playing in a team or playing at a top level, then playing at an international level is virtually impossible."

Beckham is bringing plenty of celebrity buzz with him to Italy. He is married to fashion icon Victoria Beckham and the player himself has done underwear ads for the Milanese designer Armani. Beckham said Milan's status as a fashion capital did not enter into his decision.

"No, fashion had nothing to do with my choice in coming to Milan," he said. "The red and black shirt was the reason I came to Milan, and the history behind the club."

Victoria Beckham sat in the front row during the news conference wearing a slim-fitting short-sleeved dress, black gloves and stiletto heels. "Posh Spice" has recently signed as the spokeswoman for the new Armani lingerie line.

She and the couple's three boys will remain in Los Angeles for most of her husband's stint.

"They're going to be staying in school, but we're going to be coming over as much as we can," Victoria Beckham said. "We're very, very excited."

The loan begins Jan. 7 and expires March 9, Milan vice president Adriano Galliani said. The midfielder will start work after the holidays when he joins his new teammates at a training camp in Dubai on Dec. 29.

"He is in really great physical condition, I am told, and I believe that after the period of preparation in Dubai, I believe he will be up to playing," Galliani said.

Beckham cannot play competitive games with Milan until the transfer window opens in January. He will greet fans Sunday before a league match against Udinese and also will reportedly meet Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who owns the team.

But not everyone is pleased. Milan midfielder Gennaro Gattuso doesn't understand the point of this move.

"This Beckham thing seems very strange to me. Perhaps it would've been better and more right if he stayed for the whole season and signed a proper contract," Gattuso said this week. "To be here for six weeks to two months seems pretty strange."

LONDON (AP) Brad Friedel's saves kept Aston Villa in the game and Lucas Neill's own goal gave it a 1-0 victory at West Ham on Saturday that lifted the team into third place in the Premier League.

Neill deflected a cross from James Milner over the head of stranded Hammers goalkeeper Robert Green for Villa's 78th minute goal at Upton Park. Friedel made top quality saves on Craig Bellamy, Carlton Cole and Calum Davenport. The American goalkeeper also tipped a deflection from teammate Curtis Davies over the bar.

"I'm delighted and at the moment it's nice and it would be lovely to just hang in there," Villa manager Martin O'Neill said. "I'm glad Brad Friedel had a magnificent game for us.

Clint Dempsey scored Fulham's third in a 3-0 victory over Middlesbrough and Sam Allardyce marked his return to club management with a 3-0 victory as next-to-last Blackburn ended a slump of 11 games without a win.

Benni McCarthy scored twice with Rovers racing into a 3-0 lead at Ewood Park and the victory takes them to within two points of Manchester City.

Sunderland, which was linked to Allardyce after Roy Keane quit two weeks ago, scored four goals for the second game in a row under temporary manager Ricky Sbragia. After last weekend's 4-0 victory over West Bromwich Albion, the Black Cats won 4-1 at another promoted club, Hull, to move up to 12th.

Bolton scored twice in the first three minutes to beat Portsmouth 2-1.

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