Madonna tried to control Guy Ritchie with a "marriage contract", it has been claimed.

The "contract" was drawn up after the couple - who split after nearly eight years of marriage two weeks ago - visited marriage counsellors two years ago.

The document gave intimate instructions such as how much private time the couple should have together, how often they were to have sex and how to tackle arguments.

According to Britain's The Sun newspaper the document ordered Guy to "Work to enrich his wife's emotional and spiritual wellbeing," and devote time to reading texts related to Kabbalah, the mystical offshoot of Judaism which Madonna follows.

On sex, the marriage rules state both of the couple should "devote time to our sexual expressiveness" and "not use sex as a stick to beat one another".

The rules also detailed how Guy should "resolve conflicts in a constructive way", and if they were arguing he must not shout at his wife, but look her in the eye and say: "I understand that my actions have upset you, please work with me to resolve this."

A source close to the couple said: "Guy felt bound up."

According to other insiders, Madonna pinned the contract to the wall of the couple's home in New York, and if things became heated between them, she would say: "Contract, Guy, contract."

The British film director was spotted on the set of his new film "Sherlock Holmes" in the UK yesterday (28.10.08), strumming a classical guitar.

He reportedly took up the instrument after Madonna bought him one while they were dating.

After Guy reportedly rejected his wife's initial offer of a ￡20 million settlement, Madonna's friends are reportedly calling him "Material Guy", in reference to her famous hit "Material Girl". He maintains he is only requesting the cash equivalent of the value of their London home - estimated to be worth ￡25 million - and their country estate in Wiltshire.

(Agencies/China Daily October 30, 2008)