David Beckham and AC Milan play Germany’s Werder Bremen today in a UEFA Cup encounter and critics are increasingly questioning the Italian club’s policy of signing veteran players .

One of the best soccer writers in the country, Sports Illustrated’s Grant Wahl, observed this week that the Galaxy win more without Beckham in the side than with him and crunched the numbers to prove it:

“L.A.’s winning percentage since his arrival has been better in the 22 games Beckham has missed (.477) than in the 32 games he has played (.406).”

Read the whole thing here.

Adoring crowds greeted Beckham in a Milan store earlier in the week.

Finally, here’s Beckham on his on-going transfer saga:

“I have not heard from Galaxy, but from what has been said, I gather there could be good news.”

Glad that’s cleared up then.

Updated 6 p.m. – Becks is getting worried he won’t get his way and stay in Italy (oh dearie, dearie me):

MILAN (AP) – Just over week before his scheduled return to the Los Angeles Galaxy, David Beckham is becoming frustrated by the delay in his possible transfer to AC Milan.

Beckham’s loan to Milan from Major League Soccer is scheduled to end March 8. Milan
offered $3 million, but Los Angeles said it wanted at least $10 million.

Milan vice president Adriano Galliani responded by saying that the club was not
prepared to go any higher for the 33-year-old midfielder, who can terminate his MLS
contract in November.

“There’s a lot going on and a lot being said, and every day someone is asking me
questions about what’s happening,” Beckham said Thursday night after Milan was
eliminated from the UEFA Cup by Germany’s Werder Bremen. “It needn’t be said every
day, but so far I am trying to concentrate on the football. At the moment, we’ll have to
see what happens. At the moment it is being discussed and negotiated.”

Beckham played the full 90 minutes for Milan, which wasted a 2-0 lead. The 2-2 tie left
the teams 3-3 in aggregate, and the German club advanced because of more away
goals.

“It doesn’t change me wanting to play at this club and hopefully it doesn’t change other
people’s views of me wanting to stay at this club,” he said.