Beckham says leaving family for months "kills" him

Miami (ANTARA/Reuters) - Soccer star David Beckham`s loan move to AC Milan means he faces six months away from the family home, an absence that he says "kills" him.

The 34-year-old will stay in Italy from January to June before returning to the Los Angeles Galaxy after the World Cup in South Africa.

In an interview with Fox Sports Radio, Beckham said he lost money on the same loan move earlier this year but it was being away from his kids that he found toughest.

"The biggest thing for me is I go away and leave my family for six months. They come over and see me for a week every eight weeks," he said.

Anyone who knows me knows how I feel about my children, about my wife and my family and I hate being away from them. Being away from my family and my children kills me. Beckham endures the separation because his boys are settled in school in the U.S. and he and his wife do not want to unsettle them.

He said it was his desire to play for England in next year`s World Cup that drove him to leave the U.S. for half the year to play in Serie A, and was aware there was no guarantee he would make Fabio Capello`s final squad.

"It`s the only reason I am choosing to be away from my family for six months," he said.

"Being in the World Cup squad is not guaranteed, even if I go to Milan it is not guaranteed, but I need to do everything possible to give myself a chance.

"It`s always a roller-coaster in my career ... and it is going to be like that for the next six to eight months but I am looking forward to it," said Beckham.

The former England captain and his Galaxy team play the second leg of their Major League Soccer Western Conference semi-final against local rivals Chivas USA on Sunday. The first leg ended 2-2. (*)