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David Beckham has revealed England coach Fabio Capello has told him he has to be playing in Europe before next summer's World Cup in South Africa.
Beckham went on loan to AC Milan last season to boost his England chances.
The former England captain is now back with LA Galaxy preparing for his MLS comeback against New York Red Bulls.
But he said: "Leading up to the World Cup, the England manager has made it very clear to me that I need to be playing at a European level."
Beckham, 34, has already hinted he would now consider a return to the Premier League, despite admitting he would find it difficult to play against former club Manchester United.
But he is prepared to consider the move back to England, and Europe, to ensure he is in Capello's plans for next year's showpiece in South Africa.
He said: "I will do everything possible. I'll always regret it if I didn't do everything to give myself a chance to be involved in that.
"At the moment, my priority is the rest of the season and also playing and keeping in every squad for England and representing my country. Going forward, of course I want to be involved in the World Cup. I've not hidden that fact."
The midfielder said he would never turn out for another English side when he left Manchester United in 2003.
But in a U-turn, he stated: "Never say never. I would definitely consider it.
"When I left my heart was in Manchester - I couldn't see myself playing against United. Now I wouldn't rule it out."
Beckham has a five-year Major League Soccer contract, which began in 2007 and allows for him to spend the off-season on loan at a European club.
He has only recently returned to the United States following a five-month spell with AC Milan.
His interest in a return to England is likely to spark rumours of a move to Chelsea this winter after he impressed new Blues manager Carlo Ancelotti, who was Milan coach during the player's time in Italy.
However, a return to Serie A seems the more likely move.
"Obviously, Milan expressed that they want me to go back, so I don't see any reason why that would change," added Beckham, who left Old Trafford to join Real Madrid.
"We'll have to wait and see. I hope to be going back there."
And Beckham, who is England's most capped outfield player with 112 appearances, has reiterated his desire to see out his MLS contract.
"I intend to stay until the end of my contract and maybe further," he confirmed.
"I've always said that. I've always said, even when I went to Milan, that I'm committed to the Galaxy and to MLS, and that hasn't changed."
Beckham is currently trying to mend relationships with players and fans in Los Angeles that soured after he opted to stay in Italy rather than return to the US for the start of the MLS season.
His Galaxy team-mate Landon Donovan suggested Beckham had shown a lack of commitment and that his level of dedication to the club had waned since his arrival in July 2007.
The duo met, along with manager Bruce Arena, when Galaxy training resumed on Monday, and Beckham said: "I'm not going to talk about what was said. That was between me, Landon and the manager but we had a good talk."
Donovan too is keen to put recent events behind him, adding: "We're getting past it, we're moving on.
"There's a lot of things I regret. I regret the way that I went about this process and I also regret some of the things I said.
"Some good will come out of it. I really believe that. I believe we're getting to the bottom of things we needed to."
Source: BBC
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