OPINION

By Robert Millward

updated 7:31 p.m. ET Oct. 22, 2008

LONDON - David Beckham’s possible jump to AC Milan could be more than just a temporary deal and might mean “arrivederci” to the Posh ’n Becks show in America.

Beckham needs to stay competitive to keep his spot on the England team, and the loan would come with Major League Soccer in its offseason.

AC Milan vice president Adriano Galliani said Wednesday a deal is close. Beckham would join the Italian club in January and play in Serie A for a few months before returning to the Los Angeles Galaxy.

But there could be more to Beckham’s move to Milan, a glamorous city as famous for fashion as for soccer and opera. It could be an ideal new home for Beckham and wife Victoria, the Spice Girl heavily into promoting her own fashion lines.

If her husband joins the likes of Brazilian stars Ronaldinho and Kaka at Milan it will raise his profile in Europe again and make him even more marketable.

Milan could consider buying out the remainder of Beckham’s five-year contract with the Galaxy, for whom his appearances and performances have been inconsistent. Beckham announced his move to the Galaxy in January 2007, although he didn’t start playing for the team until July of that year after the conclusion of his contract with Real Madrid.

Although Beckham’s move to America was greeted by hype and hoopla, it has hardly been a major success. He hobbled into MLS with an ankle injury that kept him sidelined for weeks. His arrival was responsible for a big hike in sales of tickets and merchandise, but his impact on the field was minimal.

For the second straight year, Los Angeles failed to make it to the MLS playoffs after a season in which the president/general manager who took him there, Alexi Lalas, was fired.

In his short spell, Beckham has played under three coaches — Frank Yallop, Ruud Gullit and Bruce Arena — or four if counting Cobi Jones. He was put in charge for one game before Arena replaced Gullit.

Such a history suggests Beckham could be going nowhere with the Galaxy despite his salary of $6.5 million a year — twice that of the next-highest earner.

Although Beckham and his family are friends and neighbors with another celebrity couple, Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes, the former England captain may conclude his soccer career will stagnate if he stays in Los Angeles.

MLS commissioner Don Garber confirmed the talks of Beckham joining AC Milan, but stressed that Beckham will be playing for the Galaxy at the start of the 2009 season.

A return to Europe, where he won six Premier League titles, two FA Cups and the Champions League with Manchester United and the Spanish league with Real Madrid, would certainly mean the chance of more championships.

Milan is climbing in Serie A title race and doing well in the UEFA Cup. It is a seven-time winner of European soccer’s most prestigious club competition, the Champions League, and Beckham would join a star-studded lineup — Ronaldinho, Kaka, Andriy Shevchenko, Paolo Maldini, Alessandro Nesta, Andrea Pirlo, Gennaro Gattuso and Filippo Inzaghi.

With his trademark free kicks and accurate passes, Beckham would fit in well. He would also stand a good chance of keeping his place on the England team, now run by former AC Milan coach Fabio Capello, who also was his coach at Real Madrid.

Slide show   The Week in Sports Pictures Fireworks, crash landings, Wimbledon theatrics and more. more photos

“I advised Galliani to take Beckham because he’ll only help the squad, compared to other players which, in some cases, are a risk,” said former Milan and Italy coach Arrigo Sacchi, who also had a spell as sporting director at Real Madrid when the former England captain was there. “Beckham is a great professional and an exceptional guy. He’s not going to be a bother, and if he’s still the player I knew a few years ago, he’ll give something extra to the team.”

Beckham hasn’t started in any of England’s four World Cup qualifying victories, although Capello used him as a late substitute each time.

That means the 33-year-old Beckham is still in his thoughts. But Capello made it clear to Beckham and other players that he will bypass those not playing regularly.

With England to play exhibition games against Germany in November and Spain and Slovakia early next year, Beckham doesn’t want to lose his place before World Cup qualifying resumes against Ukraine on April 1 and Kazakhstan and Andorra in June.

A move to Europe and regular starts for Milan would help him stay on course for what he hopes would be a fourth World Cup in South Africa in 2010. If he stays with the Galaxy, Beckham might end up watching it on TV.

Also on NBCSports.com   Video: Legends say Federer greatest of his generation Curran: McNair — tough, talented, great  |    Images Ventre: Artest puts everything in jeopardy for Lakers Blyleven: Days of .400 hitter are dead and gone   NFL video: How to build the ultimate offense

MORE FROM SOCCER

Soccer Section Front

Adu’s goal kicks off U.S. rout in Gold Cup Slideshow: The life of Becks, on and off the field MLS scores, schedules, standings, more Vote: Who will be MLS champions? Scores from England, Spain, Italy, more MORE ON SOCCER Soccer Section Front   Add Soccer headlines to your news reader: