Sir Alex Ferguson, the Manchester United manager, was not surprised to hear that David Beckham could join AC Milan on loan in January.

Ferguson, who sold Beckham to Real Madrid in 2003, said he had expected the England midfielder to return to Europe in search of more competitive football as he attempts to prolong his international career.

"It is hardly a surprise," Ferguson said. "Going to the United States does not get you the kind of football he is used to. It is not the right level of football, therefore coming back into the mainstream of the game is not a surprise. People have been edging towards that for quite a while now."

Meanwhile, Andriy Shevchenko and Filippo Inzaghi, the AC Milan strikers, have welcomed the news.

"He is a great professional and he would come to play at a high level, which is clearly a sign that he wants to be considered for the national team," Shevchenko said.

"I would really like it if Beckham came to give us a hand to win. He will certainly get a big welcome," Inzaghi added.