Furious Victoria Beckham has told husband David he must do what she wants - or their marriage is over.

"It's my turn now," she stormed. "It's my way or the f***ing highway."

The couple have been at loggerheads since David's move to football giants Real Madrid in the summer.

In recent weeks, the marriage crisis has intensified with the arguments growing as both refuse to back down.

A trial separation between David, 28, and Victoria, 29, has even been discussed as the glamour couple's four-and-a-half-year fairytale marriage continues to unravel.

After five days apart they were reunited on Monday, but began rowing within hours. In an extraordinary outburst that took Becks by surprise, the former Spice Girl gave him her ultimatum.

An insider revealed: "She told him in no uncertain terms that she was not going to just give up her career and spend the rest of her life as Mrs Beckham. He's got his professional life and she wants her professional life.

"Victoria will not live full-time in Spain and will do anything to get her own way and that includes warning that the marriage will end if she doesn't end up as the boss.

"The marriage is at breaking point and it's Victoria who is forcing the issue. She has even warned David that she will leave him."

Conciliatory David told her she was over-reacting, and took her to dinner at one of London's most romantic restaurants.

In a desperate bid to appease his wife, he splashed out on a spectacular diamond ring which Victoria was seen wearing on the rare night out at Drones.

But despite the extraordinary present, Victoria is refusing to budge. The emotional turmoil prompted her to scrap a planned shoot for her new pop video during the week and ?0,000 photo session she was expected to attend on Friday.

The source said: "You have to remember that Victoria is a woman who usually gets her own way. In many ways, she's incredibly selfish - or single-minded depending on your opinion.

"And if she has a strong view on something she will do anything to make sure she gets her own way."

But since his move to Spain, the previously shy and retiring soccer ace has come out of his shell...and discovered his independence. Friends confirm he is prepared to stand his ground when it comes to Victoria's demands.

One said: "Ever since they met, Victoria has got her own way. She has styled her husband and helped him become a fashion icon as well as a football superstar.

"She has also dominated the couple's finances. She and her mother have always gone over their earnings with a fine tooth comb down to even the last penny.

"She was even the driving force in him leaving Manchester United. She wanted him to quit the club because she couldn't stand Sir Alex Ferguson. David was always prepared to go along with anything she wanted until he went to Real Madrid."

In Spain David, 29, has become friends with the likes of team-mates Roberto Carlos, Ronaldo and Raul - and discovered a new way of life.

The friend said: "David has a new confidence since he's gone to Real. He has learnt to socialise and go partying without Victoria. He's also learnt to stand up for himself and for the first time in his life he feels one of the lads with other players who are as much in the spotlight as him."

The more self-assured David, who was last week named the Greatest Pop Culture Icon ever, laid down the law to his wife. He wanted his whole family - Victoria plus children Brooklyn, four, and 15-month-old Romeo - together in Madrid. Becks is concerned at the amount of time Posh is spending away from their children.

When son Romeo bumped into some chairs and fell in Spain nine days ago, Victoria was 3,000 miles away in New York. David gave the toddler first aid before taking him to a clinic for treatment. The youngster was given stitches before being allowed home.

Even then, Victoria did not immediately leave the US and return to Madrid. "David was livid," said the pal. "He really believes she is an incredible catch and one of the most beautiful women in the world but he was stunned that recently it seems she has been putting her career above her family.

"David's number one priority in life is simple - his children. Victoria and football mean so much to him, but he adores Romeo and Brooklyn more than anything in the world."

Friends believe Victoria may be playing a very dangerous game with her husband. She believes he loves her more than anything in the world and, when it comes to the crunch, he will leave Spain rather than see their marriage crumble.

"But Victoria is forgetting just how much David has settled in Madrid," the friend said.

"He has discovered a new side of his own character in Spain - a relaxed happy side. He's playing the best football of his life and the children are happy there as well.

"Victoria wants it to be the way it was with the pair of them being pictured leaving restaurants and going shopping in London. But David has moved on."

When Victoria urged David to leave Manchester United she envisaged him signing for a London club - preferably Arsenal.

She knew United would not sell him to a Premiership rival, but hoped he would return to Arsenal or Chelsea after a brief time in Madrid.

What she did not realise was just how happy her husband would be in Spain. A source revealed: "Victoria has always wanted him to move to a London club in the end.

"But what she didn't take into account was the football. She never really took on board that playing for Real Madrid is the ultimate for David in club terms.

"And she didn't realise that the only English club he would ever want to play for is Man Utd, because he's a life-long United fan."

To add to her woes she is at loggerheads with her record company Telstar who have resisted her insistence on releasing hip-hop style songs on her new album.

They have agreed an uneasy truce by releasing a double A-side single on December 29 -with one pop track Let Your Head Go and the hip-hop effort This Groove.

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