SOCCER: BECKHAM RETURN '100%'

SOCCER: BECKHAM RETURN '100%'

(ANSA) - Rome, October 26 - Los Angeles Galaxy and England midfielder David Beckham is certain to return to AC Milan in January on another loan until the end of the Serie A season, Milan CEO Adriano Galliani said Monday.

''It's 100% certain. The only things missing are the signatures but there is total agreement,'' Galliani told Sky TV Italia.

The England star, 34, is eager to boost his chances of staying in the England squad for next year's World Cup.

Last year his form at Milan led England coach Fabio Capello to keep him in the frame and he has since become his country's most-capped outfield player with 115 caps.

Last season, Beckham's extension of an initial two-month loan, partly at his own expense, caused friction with the LA Galaxy but a repeat is expected to meet less resistance from the Major League Soccer outfit.

There have been reports that some Milan execs were against footing Beckham's 85,000-euro-a-week salary again but Galliani seems ready to buck a recent cost-cutting trend at Premier Silvio Berlusconi's club.

An underperforming midfield after Brazil star Kaka's departure to Real Madrid was partly blamed for Milan's stuttering start to this year's Serie A campaign.

But they have started to show signs of their old form in two straight Serie A wins and a dramatic 3-2 Champions League win at Real Madrid last week.

Sunday night's 2-1 win at Chievo Verona lifted them to joint 4th spot in Serie A, three points behind third-placed Juventus, five behind second-placed Sampdoria and seven adrift of leaders Inter Milan.

Galliani ruled out any other moves in the January transfer window.