Soccer
Becks hints at longer PSG stay
2013-03-01 13:07
Paris - David Beckham has hinted he could stay on at Paris Saint-Germain once his short-term contract ends in June.
The 37-year-old midfielder has made a positive start at PSG, helping to set up a goal for Zlatan Ibrahimovic in last Sunday's 2-0 win against Marseille in the league and following up with a solid 86-minute performance in the 2-0 win against Marseille in the French Cup on Wednesday.
He showed in those games that he has lost none of his passing range and, although he tired in the second half on Wednesday, his combative streak was evident and well received by a boisterous home crowd.
In a television interview late Thursday, Beckham was asked if his contract does not go beyond June and he replied: "Not yet it doesn't."
PSG coach Carlo Ancelotti played Beckham in a deep-lying midfield role, and his crisp passing launched several attacks.
There were doubts before the game that Beckham would struggle to last the pace as a starter, but he was competitive throughout, even if his fitness dipped toward the end after two months without playing. Before Wednesday, Beckham's previous start was his final appearance for the Los Angeles Galaxy on December 1.
He was quick to praise his teammates for helping him settle in.
"When you play with good players like I'm playing with it's very easy to play the game so I've been able to settle in," Beckham said in an interview with Canal Plus. "They're very good people and very good players and have looked after me in every sense. They've made me feel at home."
Thousands of fans greeted Beckham when he took part in a promotional commitment at the Adidas flagship store on the Champs-Elysees on Thursday. The previous night, he went off to a standing ovation when he was substituted.
"We've been welcomed in Paris with open arms, it's been very special to be welcomed the way we have," Beckham said, adding that his wife, Victoria, was just as happy as him.
"She loves everything in Paris, there's not one thing she doesn't like," he said. "She was very happy when I signed for PSG because she loves Paris as a city. I've been very lucky throughout my career that I've been able to play in some great cities."
Beckham is looking to win a fourth championship after previous successes with Manchester United, Real Madrid and the LA Galaxy.
PSG is at the top of the French league heading into this weekend's games - with a slender three-point lead over Lyon - and is qualified for the quarterfinals of the French Cup and holds a 2-1 lead over Valencia ahead of Wednesday's return leg at Parc des Princes in the last 16 of the Champions League.
Beckham won the Champions League with United in 1999 and is quietly dreaming of another trophy.
"It would be very nice to be part of a team again that wins the Champions League, but there's a long way to go, we did well in the first game against Valencia, but the second game will be very difficult," he said. "We're in a good position in the Champions League, the league, and the cup. I don't think there's going to be any team we're going to come up against where it's going to be easy."
When Beckham joined PSG, he pledged to donate his entire salary to a children's charity.
"We have two charities we are looking at now, once we decide which charity then we will announce it," he said. "I think I'm very lucky to have been very fortunate throughout my career to be in a position I am in, and I just felt it was a nice thing to do."