David Beckham

David Beckham is desperate for his AC Milan team-mates to emulate Rangers’ heroics in Europe last season and make it all the way to the UEFA Cup final.

The Italian giants travel to Glasgow to take on the Ibrox club in a glamour friendly on Wednesday night.

Former England captain Beckham, who is on loan at Milan from Los Angeles Galaxy, is among a host of stars expected to play in the match.

The 33-year-old watched on as Walter Smith’s side made it all the way to last year’s UEFA Cup final in Manchester before eventually losing to Zenit St Petersburg.

And now Beckham wants his new team to do the same this year with a last-32 tie against Werder Bremen coming up later this month.

“Rangers obviously went to the UEFA Cup Final last season and I followed how they were doing and I really wanted them to do well and it was great they made it,” Beckham said.

“We want to do the same this year. We’re well placed, all the guys are feeling great, so we’ll see.

“We play Bremen in the next round and I know that Rangers knocked them out last year so if we beat them it might be a good omen but we have a lot of big games coming up.”

The midfielder has not played in Scotland since England won a European Championship play-off match at Hampden in 1999 and he is looking forward to his latest visit.

“It’s great for me personally going back to Scotland.

“I haven’t been there since England beat them 2-0. Hopefully, it’ll be the same result.

“It’s great for the fans to see so many great players; we have got so many great players: Kaka, Seedorf, Pato, Maldini, Ronaldinho.

“There are going to be a few good match-ups in that game but it’s one that both sides are going to enjoy.

“Both teams have got very talented players so it’s going to be a good spectacle for the fans and hopefully they come and enjoy themselves, because that’s what it’s for.”

It will not be the first time Beckham has appeared at Ibrox after he played for Manchester United in a 1-0 defeat in a friendly match against Rangers in 1994.

“I remember playing at Ibrox for Manchester United in 1994 when I was a young player and that was a great day, although Eric Cantona was sent off in that match,” the midfielder said.

“It was a great atmosphere that day and I’m sure it will be the same again on Wednesday.

“Scottish fans are so passionate about their football so I know it’s going to be an amazing atmosphere because Rangers have got amazing fans. It’s going to be exciting.”

One Rangers player looking forward to facing Beckham again is defender Davie Weir. The 38-year-old played against the former England captain in his time with Everton and is can’t wait to lock horns with him again.

“I played against Beckham in the Premiership and for Scotland against England in the Euro 2000 play-off game.

“I remember in the Scotland-England game at Hampden in 1999 it was Beckham’s free-kick that led to Paul Scholes scoring the second of his two goals.

“A lot of people focus on his celebrity status but forget just how good a player he is, what he has achieved in the game and how long he’s done it.”