Introducing David Beckham, the first "time-share" football player
David Beckham has put himself firmly in the frame to play at his fourth World Cup finals after securing a unique 'timeshare' deal that will see him spend the bulk of the next 15 months with AC Milan.
Beckham's desire to stay at the Serie A club is such that he will fund the majority of the loan fee being paid to the Los Angeles Galaxy - thought to be £2million - out of his own pocket.
Under the agreement, Beckham will 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.
It means Beckham now has the opportunity to cement his position in Fabio Capello's England squad for the World Cup qualifiers and the finals in South Africa next year.
Capello was instrumental in Beckham going to Milan in the first place having made it clear he believed it was necessary for him to play at the highest level.
Beckham's former club manager Sir Alex Ferguson has no doubt he has done the right thing.
The Manchester United manager said: "It is good for him, there is no question about that because it is the right type of football."
The deal follows weeks of negotiations between the two clubs during which Milan baulked at the size of the transfer fee Galaxy were demanding - thought to be around £12million.
The only issue that has yet to be settled is Beckham's position at the end of next season - under the arrangement he will only be on loan at Milan until then.
Under the arrangement Beckham will not have the sort of long break most players in Europe enjoy in the summer but he will have several shorter breaks instead.
He will have some time off before rejoining the Galaxy once the international transfer window opens on July 15, and then another break before returning to Milan in November.
