Milan, Jun 03: AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani has played down talk of the freshly-crowned European champions signing Manchester United midfielder David Beckham. He said the England captain costs too much for the Italian club who would rather buy a defender.
''Beckham intrigues me but he costs too much...Nonetheless we will strengthen the squad with a great right-back,'' Galliani told a daily yesterday. Media reports have suggested Beckham could leave United during the close season with Spanish club Barcelona another team to have been linked with the midfielder.
Galliani, who effectively runs Milan on behalf of club owner and Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, added, ''The operation is complicated and hard work, there is not much money around and Beckham costs a lot. ''To add to that the player has a sponsorship deal that goes for another two years, which is not compatible with our company,'' he said.
Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti has gone on the record as saying Beckham would not fit easily into his team and Galliani said the club's priority was to find a top-class right-back.
''We are looking for a great right back, we are looking for experienced players, who have already won important trophies,'' he said. Milan won the European Cup on Wednesday with a 3-2 win on penalties against Italian champions Juventus at United's Old Trafford Stadium.
Bureau Report