"I think Becks is a fantastic player, he's only 32 and he's got a lot of years left in him," Ince, now in charge of MK Dons, told Football Italia of his former Manchester United teammate.

"I was playing in the Premier League when I was 35 so he's probably got three or four good seasons if he keeps himself fit.

"He should have gone to Italy, it would have suited him - he'd have been adored by the fans. But he chose to go to America.

"It is a strange one, but I'm not David Beckham. If he felt going over to the States was the best thing for his family then I've got no qualms with that."