David Beckham Will Be A Great Help To Leonardo & Milan - Clarence Seedorf

Milan midfielder Clarence Seedorf has revealed that he cannot wait to link up with David Beckham again when the Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder arrives in January.

"I'm very pleased David Beckham is coming back because he owes me dinner!" Seedorf joked in an interview with Sky Sports News.

"Seriously, I'm very pleased for him because it will be important to play at this level until the World Cup. Beckham is still a very good player if he is going to be fit. We are going to help him, he is going to help us.

"Last year we weren't that competitive in the league but it will be easier for Beckham to show his quality on the pitch this season."

Seedorf feels that Beckham will also be a huge help to Leonardo, who is beginning to settle into his new role as Rossoneri coach.

"We knew we'd go through a difficult start losing a great player [Kaka] and a great coach [Carlo Ancelotti], but in the end the work that we've done on the pitch and on the training ground is beginning to pay off. Leonardo is growing every day in his role - he is intelligent, he has personality, and he is doing a good job," Seedorf continued.

Asked about who the team to beat in the Champions League is, Seedorf stated, "We need to focus on our own game, and enhance our own identity. Milan just want to concentrate on getting to the next round."

On the topic of the Champions League, Seedorf feels that Serie A is beginning to catch up with the Premier League and the Primera Division.

"The English squads have been ruling in the past five years - they still are. They have more teams who are competitive in Europe - more so than Italy and Spain. This does not mean that they will win though. Italy is doing much better than last year," the Dutchman stated.

"Chelsea will be one of the teams to beat. They have been so close to winning the Champions League - they will have extra motivation. Arsenal I am not convinced in Europe will go all the way. I am disappointed in Liverpool. I hope for [Rafael] Benitez and the team that they do not change the manager."

Seedorf became a Legacy Champion of the Nelson Mandela Foundation last summer and he continues to be proud of the part that he plays for the organisation.

""It's a big honour to be part of a very important group of people, alongside President Bill Clinton, to form these five personalities," he enthused. "We will aim to keep Nelson Mandela's legacy alive - it's a big pleasure to keep his work alive and to receive the certificate.

"[Secretary General of the UN] Kofi Annan's campaign for climate change affects everyone. On December 7 the world leaders meet and hopefully it will be a positive outcome so the ones who are suffering from climate change suffer less in the future."

Anthony Wright, Goal.com