Beckham plans to be world's best

Michael Parkinson meets Man Utd's David Beckham

David Beckham has told BBC chat show host Michael Parkinson that he plans to become "the best footballer in the world" while at Manchester United.

Beckham, who appears on Saturday's Parkinson on BBC One, also reveals how he has learned to cope with abuse and insults about his wife Victoria, baby boy Brooklyn - and insisted he has no plans to leave his beloved club for foreign climes.

After interviewing the Manchester United midfielder, Parkinson was full of praise for a man who has been dubbed "the new royalty".

"He's a very delightful young man, he's the sort of kid that any dad would be proud to have as a son really. A thoroughly nice, decent young man - he also happens to be the best footballer we've got," Parkinson enthused.

England star Beckham also explained how his parents nurtured his dreams of becoming a professional from an early age, and remain the people who remain his most solid supporters.

Obviously you've got to have a certain amount of ability but I've practised since I was 8, 9 10 - that's something my dad always drummed into me

  David Beckham

Beckham told Parkinson: "My mum and dad have always been there since I was seven or eight when I first started playing Sunday league football.

"They've been there every game from then up till now. I think my dad's missed two games in my whole career and that's the sort of support any youngster needs to get to the top and having someone like my mum and dad behind me has got me where I am today."

Beckham insisted that dedication to practice was a major reason for his success but said his natural ability often caused problems for him at school.

"Sometimes at school I used to get kicked all over the place and come home with bruises from head to toe.

"I used to get quite a bit of stick at school but I'm never one to turn round and say I was really good at football when I was 10 or 11; I left that for other people to say."

"I think when young kids ask questions to me I think that's the first thing I always say to them - that practice gets you to the top, most of the time.

"Obviously you've got to have a certain amount of ability but I've practised since I was eight, nine, 10. That's something my dad always drummed into me."

The stuff about Brooklyn I'll never get used to, I don't know why - it's harder to accept I think

  Beckham on crowd abuse

Having missed out at international level as a youngster because he was considered too small, when he finally made it on to the world stage he managed to incur the wrath of the England faithful when he was sent off during the side's World Cup match in 1998 against Argentina.

He has since endured almost relentless abuse from crowds up and down the country.

He explained: "It doesn't really affect me when I'm on the pitch, because I'm in a professional mode when I'm on the pitch and I try to concentrate on the game, but afterwards it gets upsetting for me when people are saying these things.

"I've got used to, in a funny way, the stuff about Victoria because I get it ever game now. The stuff about Brooklyn I'll never get used to, I don't know why. It's harder to accept I think."

He added: "At an England game at Wembley, I turned around to a fan and he was screaming about my wife and Brooklyn right to my face, and he wouldn't even look away.

"That's the disturbing part of it. These fans are meant to be supporting you as an England player and that sort of abuse is hurled at you."

Hopefully, I'll play for as long as I can because I love football and I love performing in front of 60 or 70 thousand fans

  Beckham on longevity

Beckham said he did not go out enjoying himself all the time but confessed he spent a lot of time buying clothes, and chose his newsworthy sarong himself - but he admitted his manager Alex Ferguson was less than impressed.

"I don't think he likes it too much. He obviously doesn't like the attention that I get with some of the things I wear.

"But we have a laugh and he pulls my leg about it."

The 25-year-old claimed he wants to reach the stage where he is "the best player in the world" and believes it is possible without having to move to a Spanish or Italian club.

"The press like to say that Victoria wears the trousers and makes the decisions, but at the end of the day if I do leave Manchester United, it will be my choice and not Victoria's."

He added: "I don't know about still playing at 40, - I feel about 45 now!

"Hopefully, I'll play for as long as I can because I love football and I love performing in front of 60 or 70 thousand fans. And that's the most important thing to me, career wise."