Source: Eurosport
Cap plays down role in Becks deal
England manager Fabio Capello claims he had little to do with David Beckham's decision to join AC Milan.Despite being contracted to Los Angeles Galaxy, Beckham signed a short-term loan deal to join the Serie A giants last December and has since come to an agreement which will mean he stays at Milan until the end of this campaign and then rejoins them in October after a spell with the Galaxy.The 33-year-old midfielder has since claimed that a motivating factor for his move was to improve his chances of staying in the England frame ahead of the 2010 World Cup.Less than a month before signing the deal Beckham had been left out of Capello's squad that travelled to Berlin to play Germany in a friendly - when the Italian boss cited his lack of match practice as a reason for his omission.At that time Beckham had been out of action for a month because the US Major League Soccer season was in its off-season and the player has since admitted it was a scenario he could not live with.And while Capello admits Beckham did contact him before making his move about life in Milan, he denied he had made his mind up for him."He decided. He asked me about Milan and I told him it was a good place," Capello told Football Focus.Beckham's stay in AC Milan was extended earlier this month after weeks of negotiations between AC Milan and Galaxy concluded with a unique 'timeshare' agreement.The deal will see Beckham stay at Milan until the end of the season, return to the Galaxy from July to October and then rejoin the Serie A club for the rest of the campaign.The former England captain was delighted with the arrangement and reiterated his World Cup ambitions."One of the reasons for staying at Milan is to give me the chance to play in the 2010 World Cup," he said. "I have to do everything I can do to be involved in that."Everyone knows how passionate I am about playing for my country and, if it gives me a better chance, I'll do anything possible to make that happen."[LNB]
