Beckham says leaving family for six months "kills" him

MIAMI (Reuters) - David Beckham's loan move to AC Milan means he faces six months away from the family home and the England midfielder says the absence "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.

"I go and live in Italy and I can't take my family because my boys are settled in school and there is no way that us as parents want to unsettle them," added Beckham.

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.

(Reporting by Simon Evans in Miami, editing by Tony Jimenez)