AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti believes he can still hang on to former England captain David Beckham despite Los Angeles Galaxy's claim that any deal is now off
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Deal off? David Beckham |
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Speaking ahead of Sunday's derby against Serie A leaders Inter Milan, Ancelotti said he hoped to have Beckham available for future derbies as well.
"I don't know if this is his last derby but I hope that he will be able to play in many more in the shirt of Milan," he said.
Ancelotti's belief demonstrate that Milan are not reading too much into Galaxy's statement that the Italians had failed to meet a Friday deadline to make the US club an acceptable offer.
"Today's deadline imposed by Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber regarding a resolution of David Beckham's potential transfer to AC Milan has passed and we did not receive an acceptable offer for the player," Galaxy general manager and head coach Bruce Arena said in a statement.
"As a result, David remains an LA Galaxy player and we look forward to having him back with the club starting March 9."
Beckham is on loan to AC Milan until March 8, and his success there had prompted the club and the player to express a desire to make the move permanent.
Tim Leiweke, chief executive of Galaxy owners AEG, told the Los Angeles Times that no late offer would be considered, because the Galaxy and MLS must move forward with their plans for the upcoming season.
"He will be back here on March 9 and we don't want to entertain any more conversations now," Leiweke told the Times. "It is a distraction to Bruce Arena, the team and the fans and we move on."
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