AC Milan's match against Atalanta at the San Siro today was to have been the final bow of the short, exciting, glitzy two months in Italy for David Beckham before he returned to spring in California.
The loan spell has now become a "timeshare" as Beckham's advisors, Milan and the Los Angeles Galaxy are calling the player's extended arrangement.
By the end of the Italian season it might seem more like a slog. Though Beckham's time in Milan has been personally successful - he has scored, created and played in the vast majority of minutes he has been fit - he has also watched the club's targets for the campaign gradually diminish.
A long way behind in the title race, out of the Uefa Cup, and beaten in the city derby, the timeshare Milan are now involved in with the former England captain until mid-May has a single aim: to qualify for the next Champions League.
They go into today's match as concerned about being caught up as catching up on second-placed Juventus. A clutch of other clubs can aspire to finish third instead of Milan, thus guaranteeing a berth in the group stages of Europe's principal competition - and its income - in September.
It has been a wretched fortnight for Milan, and the impetus to recover form and energy cannot simply be provided by the knowledge that Beckham will now regularly be providing his ammunition from the right.
The coach Carlo Ancelotti is expected to line up Alexandre Pato and Pippo Inzaghi to meet those crosses and hopes either Kaka or Ronaldinho, both recovering from injury, can play a part.
Meanwhile, the Napoli coach Edy Reja came out in defence of Ezequiel Lavezzi as he prepared his team for today's Serie A match against Lazio. The Argentine forward has failed to score since Jan 31.
"We are used to seeing Lavezzi put in great performances," said Reja. "But he cannot always play at a top level. What I want from him is that he continues to play as he is doing, controlling the ball, maintaining his vision of play and to keep working for the team."
Lack of goals has been Napoli's main problem of late, they have scored just twice in their last four games. Last Sunday's 1-0 defeat at Juventus was their eighth consecutive game without a win and they have dropped to 11th in the table.
Their poor run has seen their European ambitions slowly fade and put Reja under pressure.
ihawkey@thenational.ae
Expert input
If you had all the money in the world, what’s the one sneaker you would buy or create?
“There are a few shoes that have ‘grail’ status for me. But the one I have always wanted is the Nike x Patta x Parra Air Max 1 - Cherrywood. To get a pair in my size brand new is would cost me between Dh8,000 and Dh 10,000.” Jack Brett
“If I had all the money, I would approach Nike and ask them to do my own Air Force 1, that’s one of my dreams.” Yaseen Benchouche
“There’s nothing out there yet that I’d pay an insane amount for, but I’d love to create my own shoe with Tinker Hatfield and Jordan.” Joshua Cox
“I think I’d buy a defunct footwear brand; I’d like the challenge of reinterpreting a brand’s history and changing options.” Kris Balerite
“I’d stir up a creative collaboration with designers Martin Margiela of the mixed patchwork sneakers, and Yohji Yamamoto.” Hussain Moloobhoy
“If I had all the money in the world, I’d live somewhere where I’d never have to wear shoes again.” Raj Malhotra
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Afro%20salons
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Honeymoonish
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
Asia Cup Qualifier
Final
UAE v Hong Kong
TV:
Live on OSN Cricket HD. Coverage starts at 5.30am
