wish I had Beckham's sense: Gascoigne

Paul Gascoigne believes David Beckham is the perfect role model both on and off the pitch and wishes he had been more like the Real Madrid player during his own troubled career, the former England international told a British newspaper published Saturday.

In a candid interview with The Sun, Gascoigne revealed that he was back with his wife following their stormy divorce, his ambition to be a successful manager and also gave an insight into his recent playing experience in China.

"I wish I'd handled my soccer career as well as David Beckham has," Gascoigne told the tabloid.

"Maybe if Beckham had played before me, I would have lived my life differently and taken some tips," he added.

"There is no greater example of how to handle the game, on or off the field, and make the most of it at the same time."

The former Tottenham and Newcastle star said Beckham had cracked the art of handling the media, something he never managed.

"I never learned the trick of using the media to your advantage instead of fighting with them. But David has got it off to an art. He smiles or he just walks on -- but never gets into those silly confrontations."

Gascoigne, who played in Italy for Lazio, said Beckham's move to Real Madrid was "a wonderful opportunity".

"If I can give him one word of advice, it would be to score a goal against Madrid's arch rivals Barcelona. If he does that, he will win everyone over in an instant. I scored for Lazio against their big city rivals Roma and I was made."

England captain Beckham was officially unveiled as a Madrid player earlier this week following his move from Manchester United.

"When I saw David out there in Madrid, juggling a ball watched by all the screaming fans, it brought everything back to me," Gascoigne told Britain's biggest circulation daily.

"But I've had a good life in football. I've had 27 operations and still come back and I feel fit and happy for the first time in years. I want to prove to people I can be a great manager and I want to get my personal life sorted.

"If I can do that it will be my greatest achievement. David has got his goals and I've got mine. And I'm every bit as determined to achieve my goals as David is."

Meanwhile the 36-year-old revealed that he has been living with ex-wife Sheryl for six weeks. "Our relationship is very positive now. We are happy but we are not rushing things. We wanted to keep it quiet for as long as possible as we are taking one day at a time."

Gascoigne's ex-wife divorced him in 1998 over his violent drunken rages.

"Can you believe I beat her up just after our wedding (in 1996)? I think about that every day and I don't want to ever forget it. It reminds me of how low I was and why I can never be like that again," he said.

Gascoigne, who scored 10 goals in 57 matches for England, recently walked out on his latest team, Chinese B-league outfit Gansu Tianma, claiming the club owes him money.

"China was an amazing experience but it's all got a bit messy," Gascoigne admitted. "I have to get this (money issue) sorted out before I can get my life going again," said the player who also starred for Rangers in Scotland and Everton and Middlesbrough south of the border.