• Ligue 1

'Excited' Beckham in line to make PSG debut

ESPN staff
February 23, 2013
David Beckham should finally don a PSG shirt © PA Photos
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David Beckham appears set to make his debut for Paris St-Germain against arch-rivals Marseille on Sunday, after manager Carlo Ancelotti declared the Englishman fit to play.

Beckham, 37, has impressed Ancelotti with his fitness during training this week - with the Italian prepared to start the former Manchester United and Real Madrid midfielder in the important Ligue 1 clash.

"He is available but I do not want to reveal the team. He has worked well and he is in good shape physically and mentally," Ancelotti said at a press conference on Saturday. "He wants to play and is fit enough to start."

Ancelotti added: "He is capable of playing an entire match."

The Italian revealed that Beckham will play in a central role during his time at PSG, but dismissed speculation that the former England international's celebrity status would see him inserted in the first team ahead of more deserving players with lower international profiles.

"I know that Beckham has a great image to everyone but for me, if a player deserves to play, he will play, and if he doesn't deserve to, he won't play," the ex-AC Milan coach said.

Beckham, meanwhile, said he was "very excited" at the opportunity to play in another high-profile European derby game.

"I have played in a lot of big matches in my career, games like AC Milan against Inter, Real Madrid against Barcelona, and the [Los Angeles] Galaxy against Chivas," Beckham told PSG's official website.

"For me, it is very exciting to play in another very special match."

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