Fabio Capello has given David Beckham an ultimatum ahead of his loan spell with Milan: that the former England captain must play regularly over his two-month sojourn with the Italian club if he is to regain his place in the national squad. Beckham arrived in Italy yesterday intending “to give everything I can to one of the biggest clubs in the world” while understanding that “all loan spells are gambles.” He is clear that to prove he can contribute to Capello’s plans, it is a gamble he had to take.

Travelling with his wife, Victoria, Beckham officially joined Milan amid some of the pomp and ceremony that accompanies each new rite of passage in his varied professional career and, in a happy piece of timing for the Christmas market, red-and-black striped Beckham jerseys, bearing the number 32, were soon being distributed to retailers across Europe’s fashion capital. He underwent his medical examination during a bright, welcoming sort of a day and in the early evening headed to the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza in San Siro to be presented as a Milan footballer. He will be one at least until he is required to return to his employers, Los Angeles Galaxy for the beginning of the 2009 Major League Soccer season in March. Suggestions that the stay may be extended beyond that deadline were dismissed by Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani. “I would not wish to give anybody a false impression,” said Galliani, “David is with until March 9. But we hope he will leave a lasting footprint here, and perhaps we could do it again next year and maybe for longer then.”

Beckham’s aims over the next two and half are several: He wants to maintain his fitness so Capello feels he can call on Beckham, who has 107 caps, for the February and March internationals if necessary and that Capello stays persuaded Beckham, even after he turns 34 next year, has a place in England’s planning for the 2010 World Cup. After less than 12 hours in Lombardy, Beckham said: “I have already fallen in love with the place and the history of the club.” He looked forward to joining “great players like Ronaldino, Kaka, Paolo Maldini, Andrea Pirlo on the training pitch, though I don’t expect to go straight into the team. I hope I can help because Milan do have some injuries at the moment.”

Of Capello’s stipulation that Beckham must do more than keep his fitness up while with Milan, he said: “That’s the right thing to say. I know Fabio Capello and if you are playing well and you’re fit he’ll give you a chance. He has already given me the chance to play for England again after that had looked in doubt. If it’s five minutes, 10 minutes or 90 minutes, I’ll always want to play for my country.”

Beckham insisted the unusual nature of his Milan deal should “not upset the team. I want to be one of the lads here and I’ve always been a team player.” Yet he was given the VIP treatment last night. Beckham will meet Milan president Silvio Berlusconi today before greeting fans and then watching Milan’s final match of 2008, at home against Udinese. He then sets off for a winter-break tour with the squad to Dubai on December 29 and will eligible for his debut against Roma in three weeks time. Evidently pleased to have such a distinguished new entry on his cv, Beckham has received a number of text messages from colleagues in England with the words ‘David Beckham of Manchester United, Real Madrid and AC Milan’. Gamble it may be but that phase has a unique resonance among footballers of his generation, an epoch in which the leagues of Italy, Spain and England have held the status of Europe’s top three uninterrupted.

Beckham acknowledged that, though Milan approached him to join them as his Real Madrid career came to a close in 2007, he had initiated the current deal. “It was a dream at first, a wish but I’ve always wanted to play in Italy, where the football is passionate and strong. I also know it’s tough.” Why Milan? Was it because of the fashion, Beckham was asked. “No,” he smiled, “it’s a beautiful place but I definitely haven’t come here for the fashion.”