ROME - OBSESSED football fans are in a panic that the David Beckham sticker for the Panini albums will not be freely available, Ansa reported on Friday.

The sticker will only be sold on request rather than in the usual packets leading Panini commercial director Antonio Allegra to describe the response as a real 'panic'.

Allegra added: 'It a real obsession. Since early this morning, we have been submerged by telephone calls and e-mails. I think we have had a 1,000 in a single day (...).

'I could never have imagined something like this. Even after 6pm, when our offices closed, the telephone was still ringing. But we'll do everything we can to satisfy those who have asked for one.'

Former England captain Beckham is set to make his league debut for AC Milan, on-loan from LA Galaxy, in Sunday's match at AS Roma following a midweek friendly and weeks of anticipation. -- AFP