Little sparkle for Beckham in British footballing return

David Beckham made his British footballing return with AC Milan in a 2-2 friendly draw against Rangers at Ibrox on Wednesday night though, taken off at half-time, he rarely sparkled.

Beckham, whose lawyers are in talks with LA Galaxy over a possible permanent move to Italy, started alongside twice FIFA World Player of the Year Ronaldinho, though another former winner Kaka and Dutchman Clarence Seedorf were named among the substitutes.

Rangers handed 17-year-old John Fleck the chance to pit his talents against some of the world’s best players. Maurice Edu, Steven Naismith and Kyle Lafferty were also handed starts, with Kris Boyd and Barry Ferguson on the bench.

With perhaps one eye on next week’s friendly against England next week, where Beckham could equal Sir Bobby Charlton’s record of 108 caps, the midfielder failed to sparkle in a match where he rarely broke sweat before being subbed at half-time.

And it was only in the final 25 minutes that the game came to life with goals from Damarcus Beasley for Rangers, then AC Milan’s Brazilians Pato and Kaka, before a late Sasa Papac equaliser.

The Italian giants started the game at a pedestrian pace and were content to knock the ball around as if it was a training match.

But Rangers, who had several fringe players getting a rare run-out, were out to impress and forced Milan to pick up the tempo.

Milan’s first chance fell to ever-green striker Filippo Inzaghi in the tenth minute after Ronaldinho laid the ball off to him in the box but the Italian was off balance and his half-volley went well wide.

A minute later Pedro Mendes saw a powerful shot from the edge of the box turned round the post by Dida after John Fleck had teed him up.

Former England captain Beckham then found Inzaghi in the box with the kind of inch-perfect pass that will probably see him line-up against Spain next week, but the Italian’s touch was poor and Madjid Bougherra easily cleared the danger.

The woodwork stopped Ronaldinho giving Milan the lead in the 24th minute. The Brazilian hit a trademark curling free-kick from 20 yards out which McGregor appeared to get a fingertip to turn on to the post.

Beckham was replaced by Clarence Seedorf at half-time as both teams made a host of changes and the Dutchman came close with a curling effort in the 63rd minute after beating Steven Whittaker at the edge of the box.

It was another sub, Beasley, who gave Rangers the lead in the 65th minute. The American international’s mazy run took him past two Milan defenders before he prodded the ball home past Dida from ten yards out.

The lead lasted just five minutes before Pato equalised. The Brazilian wonder kid, who had only been on the pitch for a minute, had the easiest of tasks to knock home from six yards after the ball broke across the goalmouth.

Another Brazilian Kaka, who had replaced Ronaldinho on the hour mark, put the Rosseneri in front after 78 minutes.

Showing why Manchester City recently bid over 100 million pounds for him, the midfielder held off Steven Davis’ challenge before firing a low shot past McGregor into the bottom corner from the edge of the box.

Rangers were soon level when Papac scored only his second ever goal for the club in the 83rd minute. The left-back slotted home past Dida after good work from Aaron Niguez at the edge of the box.