David and Victoria Beckham are just ''busy''.

The retired soccer star, 40, and the 41-year-old fashion designer's relationship has recently been hit with rumours that the couple's marriage is on the rocks but a pal insists their apparent distancing from each other is just because they both have commitments on opposite sides of the globe.

They told The Sun newspaper: ''When she's this busy it makes sense for her to get on with her things.

''David is also busy with his projects and needs to spend a lot of time in America.''

Meanwhile, David - who has sons Brooklyn, 16, Romeo, 13 and Cruz, 10, and daughter Harper, four, with Victoria - insists it's ''pretty easy'' being married to the former Spice Girl.

He said: ''We've been together for 18 years, we've been married for 16 years. So you trust each other's judgement. I think that has worked for us.''

Chances of a split are incredibly unlikely as a source previously claimed that the pair are ''best friends''.

They said: ''They're best friends They've become so close over the years that neither one can imagine living their life without the other, and I think it's changed them both for the better.

''I think they've both realised they can only trust, rely and count on each other. And that's their biggest secret really - they can still make each other laugh after years of being together.''