David Beckham will join AC Milan on loan during the US soccer league's winter break, CEO Adriano Galliani announced Wednesday.
In a surprise development, Galliani said Beckham wouldn't just train with the Serie A outfit but also play for it if required.
Galliani said the team did not need reinforcements but the LA Galaxy and England star, 33, was welcome to get top-class soccer from January to April.
''Beckham chose Milan. Our squad is ultra-competitive and will stay the way it is but Beckham is something different and intriguing,'' Galliani said.
He said Milan was ''unique'' in playing attractive soccer aimed at bringing in the crowds and Beckham could add to that.
''It's no accident that 65,000 fans came to our last home game against Sampdoria. Milan is a product that people like,'' Galliani said.
The former Manchester United and Real Madrid winger was the type of player who could bring in even more people, he added.
Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti said: ''It will be a pleasure for me''.
''Beckham is a serious athlete and a great professional''.
The England ace will be able to play for Milan in Italy and Europe, he said.
Wednesday's news came after reports that Beckham was looking at Milan to keep up his form in the hope of adding to his 107 England caps.
But it was expected he would only train for the Italian club, as he did last winter at Arsenal.
