Allegiance to Milan means fan Beckham is looking for Manchester United to fail

The former England captain comes up against his former club for the first time since leaving Old Trafford seven years ago, but says the past will be put to one side for one night when the two sides take to the field at the San Siro in the last 16 of the Champions League.

"It is going to be an emotional game, but as a Manchester United fan, it's the first time I am going to want United to lose," he said. "As an AC Milan player I want to beat Manchester United and to say that as a Man U fan is quite difficult.

"As much as it is emotional for me personally, it is important that we win the game.

"I am a Milan player and I want us to play well in the game and progress to the next stage."

Beckham rejected the suggestion that he will be particularly motivated to get one over Sir Alex Ferguson tonight.

Beckham left Old Trafford under something of a cloud in 2003, but insists he only has good memories of his time with the Red Devils.

"Sir Alex will always be a father figure to me," he said. "He always has been and he always will be. No matter what has been said in the past, whether good or bad, I only remember the good times. He was the man who gave me my chance to play for the club I had always dreamed of playing for.

"For me they were only good times. Sir Alex is respected throughout football all around the world.

"Clubs move forward and it was my time to leave Manchester United in 2003, and I moved on.

"I definitely hold nothing against the manager; he's an incredible man."

Beckham's place in the Milan team tonight is not guaranteed and his presence at the pre-match press conference yesterday does not necessarily suggest that Milan coach Leonardo is ready to change the team he has used for the last two league games during which Beckham has sat on the bench.

"His appearance (at the press conference) is important for us and I had asked him personally to come," explained Leonardo.

"He is somebody who represents this club and he is here because of his experience and charisma.

"He's a very smart guy, a polite guy and an incredible player.

"If you look at his career you can see that he has done everything in football, not only on the field. He's a complete personality and he proves every day why he's so important for us."

Despite the praise, though, Leonardo may overlook the 34-year-old as he seeks to find a way of beating United.

Alexandre Pato is set to return to the Milan attack while Klaas Jan Huntelaar should replace the injured Marco Borriello with Ronaldinho completing the three-man attack.

Central defender Thiago Silva appears to have recovered from a groin strain he picked up early in last Friday's Serie A game against Udinese and he should partner Alessandro Nesta at the heart of the defence.

Beckham, should he start, could replace Gennaro Gattuso in midfield alongside Massimo Ambrosini and Andrea Pirlo.

Rio Ferdinand will return to Manchester United's line-up.

He is three games into a four-match domestic ban but is available for the resumption of United's quest to reach a third successive final and will partner either Wes Brown or Jonny Evans in central defence.

Nemanja Vidic (leg) and Ryan Giggs (broken arm) are both out.