15 March 2010 / AP, MILAN, ITALY
David Beckham has left Milan on a flight to Finland for surgery on his torn left Achilles' tendon, an injury likely to keep him out of the World Cup.
Italy's Sky TV says Beckham departed Linate airport at about noon (1100 GMT) Monday.
The 34-year-old former England captain was injured in the closing minutes of AC Milan's 1-0 win over Chievo Verona on Sunday.
With his hopes of becoming the first English player to appear in four World Cups shattered and his future in international football in doubt, Beckham was scheduled to be operated on either later Monday or Tuesday morning by specialist surgeon Dr. Sakari Orava.