Gullit: Beckham's LA story is over

Ruud Gullit, David Beckham’s former manager at the Los Angeles Galaxy, believes the American club could have a disgruntled player on their hands if they refuse to let him join AC Milan.

Beckham wants to make his loan spell with the Italian giants a permanent transfer, but agreeing a fee with Major League Soccer and the Californian club is proving difficult for Milan.

The midfielder, who equalled Bobby Moore’s caps record for an England outfield player in the 2-0 defeat by Spain in Seville on Wednesday, wants to stay in Italy to boost his chances of playing in the World Cup finals in South Africa next year.

Gullit can understand Beckham’s ambitions and also doubts that refusing his wishes would be of any benefit to player or his current club.

“From a player’s point of view, everyone can understand why he wants to stay at Milan,” Gullit said on BBC Five Live’s 'Sportsweek' programme.

“Every player wants to stay at the highest level, every player wants that.

“But knowing that you (Galaxy) as a club would have a player who would be very disappointed that he was not allowed to stay at Milan, how do they think he will react?

“How would his colleagues react to him if he did come back?

“In the US he has not played really, really well. Certainly not the level he has played at Milan.

“So therefore we have to see if he is going to play with the same strength and determination that he showed at Milan. That will be interesting to see.”

On his own managerial future, the Dutchman also admitted he would be interested in the job at Portsmouth.