David Beckham is not coming back to MLS. Of that fact I am pretty well confident.

And while his marriage with MLS was as brief and unfulfilling as many star-crossed unions in Hollywood, the two sides remain at odds over how best to end the affair. Beckham undoubtedly wants to remain with his current team, AC Milan of Italian Serie A rather than return to exile in Major League Soccer for the Los Angeles Galaxy.

Beckham has said very little as to why he wants to stay in Italy, speculation is rampant that he desires to show his progress to England national coach Fabio Capello so that he can make the 2010 World Cup if England qualifies.

Beckham likely feels rejuvenated by playing with superstars in the NFL of world soccer and doesn't want to waste another minute being watched by smallish crowds at Home Depot Center and playing with mediocre world talent.

For MLS-who owns David's playing rights until November-a clear line in the sand has been drawn as the league and AC Milan bicker over the transfer fee. Transfers between leagues in different countries is standard fare over there, and cash is almost always the medium of exchange. Milan wants to bid MLS $3 million and the ask for Beckham is $10 million.

For their respective parts, AC Milan and MLS have waged a standard war of poor-mouthing and and warming praise, as Milan plays the pauper who just sees Beckham as a small piece of a tactical puzzle and MLS who sees Beckham as one of the most marketable soccer player anywhere.

Beckham is playing the part of the pawn in the middle-not wanting to return to MLS, professing love for his current home and being careful not to offend the folks in America he may have to return to. A recent news story says he feels "frustrated" over the delay in making his transfer to Italy permanent.

I believe there is a way out for him, to say goodbye USA without much of the foul taste this situation currently has.

He can appeal to his love for England. Americans can be overly patriotic at times. We see NBA stars like Kobe Bryant and Allen Iverson answer the call of the county for Olympics and World Championships. They say when there that playing for their country means everything to them. However, we back in the States have to be thinking-a star this big doesn't need the exposure. Why, other than pure patriotism, would they answer the nation's call so selflessly?

At least in the case of Iverson, that is perhaps his most endearing quality.

But back to Beckham. Telling MLS fans he needs to return to Europe to prepare himself to play for England, is on its own, a noble purpose. We can speculate on what he means and his sincerity, as with Kobe and AI, but deep down we don't know what's in the man's soul. If he cares for England that much, who are we to question that motivation?

Who knows? Are appeals to nationalism considered verboten in Europe? Can England have sunk so low that their sporting folk can't tell the world how much pride they get by putting on the national team shirt? I honestly do not know the answer to that question.

But that's the point. Americans likely will take that gesture for face value. Beckham can go back to Europe and MLS fans will simply assume the better angels of his nature wanted him home in the hopes of playing for the old country one last time. It's the kind of sappy sentimental story of one last chance at glory that we Americans love (see movies like The Natural and Hoosiers if you doubt that).

If Beckham loves being back in Europe so much, I wonder why he hasn't brought England in the equation yet. It would certainly help ease the disappointment of fans in MLS who have followed the game here in America because of him. And, back in Europe, he will get raves from England fans and perhaps jeers from others, but not many in the US will know or care by then. "He left to play for his country..." will be their final thought of him.

Until then, Beckham is left in the position of being wanted where he doesn't want to be and wants to be where open arms (at least in public) only give a shoulder-hug.