The world’s most famous footballer has agreed a new deal with two clubs that will see him play part of the year in Europe and part of the year in the USA.

　　David Beckham will stayon loan to the Italian side AC Milan until the end of the season before returning to Los Angeles Galaxy in July under a "timeshare" deal in which he will play for both clubs.

　　The unique agreement was made after Beckham expressed his desire to stay on in Italy after his initial loan term expired on March 8.

　　Beckham will now go back to Los Angeles in July before returning to Milan in November for a season, missing half of this year’s Major League fixtures in the process.

　　It is understood that he has agreed to a salary cut in order to make sure the deal goes ahead.

　　Milan had offered to buy the player outright but the offer the Italians made to LA Galaxy was not deemed sufficient by the Americans.

　　Adriano Galliani, the AC Milan chairman, spoke of Beckham’s financial sacrifices in agreeing to the deal.

　　"A lot of players show their affection just with words. David Beckham is one of the very few who has shown it with deeds," Galliani told Italian television.

　　"I won't cite any numbers, but I can say that the player has made an incredible economic commitment, paying a lot of money from his own pocket," continued Galliani, underlining how Beckham had been willing to lose income to make the deal happen.

　　Beckham himself admitted that playing football at the highest level is more important to him than money.

　　"I've been able to help myself stay in Milan, if I can put it that way," said Beckham.

　　Beckham has made no secret of the fact that he believes he needs to play football in Europe if he is to earn a place in the England team for the 2010 World Cup.

　　"The obvious [reason for staying at Milan] is giving me the chance to play in the 2010 World Cup," said the 33-year-old midfielder.

　　"Everyone knows how passionate I am about playing for my country and, if it gives me a better chance of being involved in that squad, I'll do anything possible to make that happen," added Beckham.

　　Beckham’s long-term future is unclear, but for now he is in the unique position of being a member of two different clubs on either side of the world.

　

Vocabulary

　　on loan to 暂借给

　　"timeshare" 共享时间

　　expired 结束

　　Major League fixtures 美国职业足球联盟分组安排

　　salary cut 减薪

　　outright 完全的

　　not deemed sufficient 认为不够

　　chairman 主席

　　financial sacrifices 财政牺牲

　　affection 感情，爱

　　deeds 行为

　　cite 引证

　　economic commitment 经济上的承诺

　　midfielder 中场球员

　　passionate 热情的