Milan wants Beckham to stay

AC Milan wants David Beckham to stay beyond his loan ending in March, coach Carlo Ancelotti said Monday.
Speaking on Italian radio a day after the LA Galaxy star scored his first Milan goal in a 4-1 win at Bologna, Ancelotti said: ''He knows our desire, if he goes it will be a disappointment because of the contribution he is giving (in terms of) quality and balance''.
The England midfielder is due to return to Major League Soccer on March 9 but his performances have fuelled speculation he might stay with the Rossoneri till the end of the Serie A season.
Some thought the 33-year-old might be a part-time marketing diva for Silvio Berlusconi's club but Beckham has started all of his three games and on Sunday smashed in Milan's third with a cracking right-foot shot from just inside the box.
On Monday Ancelotti paid tribute to the down-to-earth and no-nonsense way Beckham has worked his way into the team.
''The merit it is: his ability, intelligence, professionalism and humility,'' he said.
Asked about the scudetto race, Ancelotti said it would come down to which of the leading three - Inter, Juventus and Milan - comes out strongest after the European Champions League games restart next month.
Inter beat Sampdoria 1-0 Sunday night to renew their 3-point lead over Juve, a 1-0 winner against Fiorentina earlier in the day.
Milan's win kept them in third, 3 behind Juve.