AC Milan midfielder David Beckham insists he will return to LA Galaxy at the end of the Serie A season. He said: "The only thing certain at the moment is that in July I will return to play with the Los Angeles Galaxy and I will meet my current team-mates in a friendly.

"I respect the Los Angeles Galaxy and I have a mission to accomplish. I want to promote soccer in the United States. It's possible that I will return in January to play for Milan but there are still some factors to clarify.

"Before I arrived here, they warned me that I would remain fascinated by Milan and they were right."

Former Manchester United and Real Madrid star Beckham has been a huge hit in Italy.

But he admits a deal to keep him at the Rossoneri would likely prove too tricky to negotiate.

"In life nothing is certain, but I believe it's a complicated path," Beckham said. "In order to remain three further months at AC Milan, I had to make many financial sacrifices.

"It's not a decision that you can take from one day to the next in your living room."

Milan are seven points behind Inter Milan in the Serie A table and closing in on direct qualification for the Champions League.

"It would be fantastic (to play for Milan in the Champions League)," he said. "It's a fascinating trophy and it's difficult to win it."