SOCCER: Former Los Angeles Galaxy general manager Alexi Lalas fears David Beckham will be tempted to bring an early end to his time in the USA.

Beckham is on loan at AC Milan until March but Lalas, who was one of those instrumental in bringing the England midfielder to Major League Soccer, believes the taste of European club football again may prove too enticing for the 33-year-old.

Beckham is under contract with the Galaxy until 2012 but Lalas told BBC Radio 5 Live: "If I was still at the Galaxy, yes, I'd fear it.

"He has to do what he feels is appropriate for his career. I think he wants to do well with the Galaxy but you only have one career.

"The experience he's going to have at Milan will benefit him individually, how much it benefits the Galaxy and the people that are ultimately paying the majority of his wages remains to be seen.

"He's back in his comfort zone at AC Milan, playing with one of the biggest clubs in the world, with a tremendous amount of talent around him, with incredible money out there on the field so it must be, in a weird way for him, a relief to get out there."

Beckham made his bow for Milan in midweek as the Serie A side beat Hamburg on penalties in a friendly in Dubai on Tuesday.

-PA