I should have stayed at Manchester United, says David Beckham

David Beckham admits he should never have left Manchester United as he prepares to return to Old Trafford with AC Milan in the last 16 of the Champions League in March. "Manchester United is so special to me and I've never been back as a player - it's an experience I want to cherish," Beckham said. "It's going to be such a special and emotional night.

"I'd have loved to have stayed at United for my whole career and never gone anywhere else but it just wasn't meant to be. "I went to Real Madrid and in the last year we were successful so I enjoyed that time, but I would like to have stayed at United."

Beckham is looking forward to taking on former team-mates Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Gary Neville. "I am sure they will all try and kick me if they can because we were together for so many years and we were so successful together," he said.

"Off the field we became best friends and that's why we became so successful at a club like United. "But it's testament to themselves and the club and everything that surrounds them as individuals that they wouldn't be at a club like United if they weren't special people and special players."

Beckham is in his second loan spell with Milan and the former England captain is taking nothing for granted despite Fabio Capello's assertion this week that he will almost certainly be a part of his 2010 World Cup squad.

"I've never expected anything," Beckham said. "I know I have to play quite a lot for Milan. I'm prepared to do that. Everybody knows I'm prepared to work hard to be part of the England squad. "I've always been very positive and I've always said I want to be available for England whether I'm in the team or not. I'm passionate about playing for my country."