Beckham has joined his former Spice Girl wife Victoria Adams and family on holiday after labelling newspaper claims about his private life as "ludicrous".

The player, who moved from Manchester United to Real madrid last July in a 25 million pound (45 million dollar) deal, insisted Monday that he was happily married after the News of the World story published claims he had a fling with former personal assistant Rebecca Loos.

The 25-year-old Loos is the daughter of a Dutch diplomat employed byu Beckham's former agents. She had been chaperoning Beckham because his wife had refused to move permanently to the Spanish capital.

Newspapers carried claims by the woman's brother and Beckham's former chauffeur in Madrid backing up the claims on Monday.

The 29-year-old singer and her parents, brother and two sons Brooklyn and Romeo flew out from Heathrow airport for an Easter break on Sunday.

Beckham, 28, was able to take time off from Real Madrid as he is suspended for their Champions League quarter-final with Monaco on Wednesday.

In a statement, released through his agent, Beckham said on Sunday: "During the past few months I have become accustomed to reading more and more ludicrous stories about my private life.

"What appeared this morning is just one further example.

"The simple truth is that I am very happily married, have a wonderful wife and two very special kids.

"There is nothing that any third party can do to change these facts."

A spokeswoman for the News of the World insisted the paper's story was true.

Beckham, made an OBE by Queen Elizabeth last November, could yet take legal action against the News of the World.

The Beckhams released statements in September and November denying claims their marriage was in trouble.

The former Manchester United midfielder married Adams when she was a member of the pop group the Spice Girls .

Last month Beckham, the world's best-paid footballer, opted for Queen Elizabeth's stockbroker to manage the fortune he has built up with his wife,

Beckham signed a deal for Cazenove to manage around 40 million pounds (73 million dollars) of the couple's wealth.

He earns more than 5 million pounds (9 million dollars) a year with the Spanish champions.

But he is reported to earn another 10 million dollars a year from off-pitch sponsorship deals.

His earnings currently dwarf those of his wife who is trying to revive her pop career.