David Beckham will return to the Los Angeles Galaxy next month after AC Milan allowed today's deadline to pass for reaching an agreement to acquire the midfielder, Bloomberg reported.
Beckham told the Galaxy he wanted to stay with the Italian club, which made an initial offer that was rejected by the Major League Soccer team. Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber set today's deadline to complete a potential transfer.
"We did not receive an acceptable offer," Galaxy Head Coach Bruce Arena said today in a statement. "As a result, David remains an LA Galaxy player and we look forward to having him back with the club starting March 9."
Beckham is due at the team's training camp March 9 and the MLS season starts 13 days later.
The 33-year-old midfielder, soccer's highest-paid player, joined Milan on a three-month loan to stay in shape during the U.S. soccer off-season and boost his chances of retaining a place on England's squad for next year's World Cup.
Beckham, who's known for his bending free kicks and crosses, said this month that he wanted to extend his stay in Italy. Milan said it also wanted to keep Beckham after he quickly established himself with the club.
Beckham joined the Galaxy from Real Madrid in 2007 on a $5.5 million-a-year contract, which the U.S. club said would be worth as much as $250 million with endorsements and profit- sharing if he stayed for the full five years.