England boss Fabio Capello fully approves of David Beckham's move to AC Milan, whom the England midfielder will join on loan on January 7.

AP

David Beckham feels that a move to AC Milan would help prolong his England career.

Speaking just before Beckham's move was confirmed, Capello said: "If Milan sign him they will make a great acquisition. He is a very focused lad. He is a professional."

Beckham's motivation for moving to Italy is he is determined to extend his England career, with Capello having warned he would miss the proposed friendly against Spain in February if he was inactive.

Capello recalled his own experiences of the former Manchester United's star's strength in adversity: "When I left him out of the team in Madrid because he had signed the contract with the Los Angeles Galaxy, he continued to come to the pitch to train and I put him back in the team."

Beckham, 33, must return to LA Galaxy by early March, to prepare for the MLS season, which is expected to start on March 19.

And, for the moment, all parties concerned are content with the terms of the deal.

Milan director Umberto Gandini told Sky Sports News: "Only David knows his future, but for sure he has a commitment to go back to the MLS and I think he will fulfil that."

Seriously, what's the big deal? We were told all along that David Beckham was going to be playing for a super club this year, it just happens to be on another continent. So, Alexi Lalas was a little off -- and you all laughed at him.

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David Beckham, right, could excel in Serie A and give MLS an image boost.

When the worst-kept secret in soccer was confirmed on Thursday, that David Beckham has inked a two-month loan deal with Italian club AC Milan, I can't help but wonder what all the fuss is about. The world's most recognizable player, in an effort to stay sharp and fit for his chances with the England squad, will suit up for a dozen or so games in San Siro and then head back to Planet Hollywood. With the amount of hand-wringing and hair pulling going on, you'd think Beckham was gone for good.

It isn't like he'll by lying out on the beach of St. Tropez getting a tan; he'll be playing for one of the most storied clubs in the world. He'll come back fit, sharp and hopefully healthy. There is precedent, after all: Eric Wynalda went on loan to Mexican club Leon following the 1999 MLS season. Simply put, Beckham wants to stay sharp and keep his strong chances with his national team alive.

England doesn't play again till a home fixture versus the Ukraine on April 1, but it is clear that Beckham wants to figure prominently into the plans for that game and beyond. Sitting comfortable in UEFA Group 6 with 12 points off of four matches, England looks primed for a fourth consecutive World Cup. Beckham, who will be 35 when the tournament kicks off in South Africa in 2010, didn't figure to be in the national team picture after the last World Cup. This exclusion would come despite the fact that he was arguably the best and most consistent player on the English team in 2006.

His move to MLS last year seemingly doomed Beckham's international career, but a sputtering performance by England in failing to qualify for Euro 2008 led new England boss Fabio Capello to look across the Atlantic at Beckham. It turns out that No. 23 is in form despite the woeful play of his Galaxy team. Now, Beckham has reclaimed his place in the England squad despite Los Angeles having missed the playoffs for a third straight season, a club record. It is a testament to just how elevated his play remains.

Now, more then ever, MLS needs David Beckham. When he first arrived, record crowds filled stadiums across the league; Year 2 of Beckham-mania showed strong attendance bounces, although not nearly as high as in 2007. If Beckham can continue to make a mark with England en route to his fourth career World Cup, then MLS and American soccer can and will benefit. Seeing Beckham at the sport's most highly watched event could only be a plus for a league still in search of an identity. It will also keep him a marquee draw and headline grabber.

The league wasn't counting on Beckham still having an international career or adding to his cap total when he made the trans-Atlantic trip last summer. Now, fans of the league and the Galaxy are worried about what Beckham's loan deal to Milan will mean to the team when it begins preparing for the 2009 season. That is a shortsighted way to look at things.

Having Major League Soccer's premier player at the World Cup lands instant credibility for a league that in 2010 will be celebrating its 15th anniversary. There is no better way -- I repeat -- no better way to embrace where it has been and where it is going then for MLS to have David Beckham in the World Cup. And we're sitting here worried about Beckham missing a few preseason games? With all due respect to the Carolina Challenge Cup or whatever plans Bruce Arena has for his Galaxy to get primed for the season, it all pales in comparison to the significance of Becks in South Africa. Think big picture here. Think marketing. Think sustained interest.

Plus, if Beckham goes to the Serie A and performs well, what does that say about MLS? Short of players from the CONCACAF region, just how many truly international stars are in MLS and still in their prime? Yes, there are a few, but even the top American players such as a Freddy Adu or Jozy Altidore continue to look overseas for options to play at the highest level. If our beloved (or sneered upon) Beckham can go over to Italy and perform crisp, clean soccer, it sends a worldwide message that no amount of victories in international club friendlies can accomplish.

Beckham's play in Serie A, if it is at a high level, can only enhance the reputation of MLS globally. It would help counter myths that say MLS is a retirement league, a place where footballers can go for one last paycheck. MLS was counting on raking in some serious cash when Beckham signed his five-year deal last year, but now the opportunity to capitalize on Beckham has become even bigger than they imagined. It extends from the jingle of the cash register to the playing field. We'll all be watching.

And maybe he can whisper a sweet nothing in the ears of Milan teammates Ronaldinho and Andrei Shevchenko while he's at it. Just tell them how lovely Columbus or Kansas City is this time of year. Come on Becks, it's worth a try.

There is a school of thought that suggests David Beckham's loan move to AC Milan is the beginning of the end of his MLS mission.

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Say hello, wave goodbye: Is Beckham's LA mission coming to an end?

The theory goes that the 33-year-old is ready to turn his back on the Los Angeles Galaxy, despondent at the lack of success after his injury blighted first season and the crushing failure of his second.

Despite protestations from all parties concerned, who have been at pains to stress that the marketing man's dream will return to the United States for pre-season training in March, there are those who believe the loan deal to the San Siro is merely the pre-cursor for a permanent move.

Unlikely? Never going to happen? That's what most people would have said three months before Beckham signed for the Galaxy in 2007. The lesson learnt then is not to underestimate Beckham's ability to surprise.

A permanent move is not beyond the realms of possibility, far from it. In fact by examining the considerations behind such a decision it is possible to make a fairly convincing argument for a permanent move to the Rossoneri being just as attractive, or even more so, than staying with the Galaxy.

Firstly, sporting. The main reason Beckham wanted the Milan loan was to keep fit and active in the MLS closed season in order to be considered for England selection. The simple fact of the matter is that playing in Serie A with players of the calibre boasted by Milan will mean that Beckham is a sharper, better player than he is when playing in the MLS.

And the choice of training with Kaka or Edson Buddle is, with all due respect, a no-brainer. Plus, the reduced travelling while on international duty would also make him a fresher player for both club and country.

Secondly, financial. One of the main reasons people believe Beckham went to the MLS was that extraordinary five-year contract worth up to £125 million. The big misunderstanding around that figure was that it was not a basic salary but also included endorsements. The £125 million figure was a marketing gimmick, something to grab headlines to promote the MLS and Beckham's arrival.

There is nothing to suggest that Beckham, and the wider brand he shares with his wife, can't match that level of income by living in Italy, a country just as fascinated with celebrity and just as willing to pay those in the public eye to endorse products.

Thirdly, familial. Perhaps the only thing counting against a move to Italy fulltime is that neither Beckham, his wife nor children speak the language. But this did not stop a move to Spain. Beckham is a family man, and living away from the UK and his nearest and dearest is one of the main downsides of life in LA. A private jet from Milan could get Beckham back to London in 1 hour 45 minutes. Considerably less arduous than the 10 hours it takes from LA.

All in all Milan does look an attractive proposition. But whether you believe Beckham is ready to turn his back on the MLS depends on why you think he joined the Galaxy in the first place?

Was it an evangelical mission to convert American heretics to the gospel of football, or a fantastic opportunity for brand Beckham to make a lot of money in an untapped market?

In truth it was both, but while fame and fortune can be pursued in Milan, the chance to make a name for himself were Pele failed, the chance to be the player who establishes soccer in the US cannot.

To dismiss this as a genuine goal would be to underestimate the determination of a player, who despite inviting and embracing the trappings of celebrity, remains one of the most dedicated footballers in the game.

In the twilight of his career two goals remain key for Beckham, to fulfil his mission in the US and reach the 2010 World Cup finals. Having proved that living and playing in the US is not a barrier to being selected for England, there is no reason to walk away.