Beckham arrives for new season in Milan

Milan, Dec 29 (IANS/AKI) British football champion David Beckham has arrived in this northern Italian city to begin his second season with AC Milan.

The England international touched down at Milan’s Malpensa airport on a private flight Monday and was whisked away by club officials before fans could get a glimpse of him.

Beckham is on a six month loan from the Los Angeles Galaxy. This will be Beckham’s second time on loan to AC Milan after playing with the club in 2009.

Journalists and cameramen gathered at the airport, but the player avoided the media and was driven away.

Later in the day Beckham appeared at the club’s Milanello training ground, where he was expected to undergo a series of medical and physical tests with other team members before they resume training after the Christmas vacation period.

Milan players Andrea Pirlo, Marek Jankulovski and Giuseppe Favalli were among the players who greeted 34-year-old Beckham on his arrival.

Meanwhile, England manager Fabio Capello said Monday that he would definitely select Beckham as a member of England’s team for the FIFA World Cup in 2010 if he was fit.

“Certainly (I’ll call up Beckham) if he is playing and physically fit,” Capello told Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport.

“I don’t look at age, I look at qualities and Beckham has lots. He’s serious, he’s a great professional and the World Cup is incredibly important to him.”

–IANS/AKI