'Bonjour': David Beckham will give entire salary to children's charity after signing five month contract with Paris Saint-Germain

Former England captain has been taking his time to make a decision

Simon Rice
Thursday 31 January 2013 12:47 EST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

David Beckham has joined Paris Saint-Germain, signing a five month deal with the Ligue 1 side that will see him remain until the end of the season.

The former England captain also revealed his entire salary will go to a local children's charity in Paris, ensuring any cynicism that he is seeking a big final pay day will have been stopped in their tracks.

At a press conference this afternoon the first question Beckham was asked was how his French was and if his family would be joining him in Paris.

Beckham said he would need to "brush up" on his French and that his family would remain in London. He was then prompted to speak some French, to which Beckham replied "Bonjour".

"I've not spoken French for quite a few years, since I was at school," Beckham said this afternoon.

"I'm definitely going to have to brush up on it. I'm excited to be here. It's something we've been talking about for quite a while. My wife and children will stay in London because the children go to school there. But we're all very excited."

Beckham revealed he won't receive a salary at the mega-rich club, instead giving it to an as yet undecided charity.

"I won't receive any salary. My salary will go to a local children's charity in Paris.

"It's something exciting and something I'm not sure has been done before."

Asked how much would go to charity, a question which irked PSG owner Nasser Al-Khelaifi, Beckham said it was "a very good figure" and that he was very excited to give such a "huge sum" to charity.

Discussing his ability to perform at the top level, Beckham, who will wear the number 32 shirt, said: "I can run around. I've not lost any of my pace because, to be honest, I've not had a lot of pace during my career. For me, Carlo [Ancelotti] is one of the best managers I have played for. It's exciting on a number of levels."

Beckham's deal is only until the end of the season, but he is delighted to be a part of PSG's future plans.

"I'm very lucky. I'm 37 years old and I got a lot of offers, more now than I've probably had in my career. I'm very honoured by that," Beckham said at a press conference.

"I chose Paris because I can see what the club are trying to do. I can see who the club are trying to bring in.

"It's an exciting city and now there's a club that's going to have a lot of success over the next 10, 20, 30 years.

"I'm very honoured I've been picked to be part of the future of PSG.

"Every club I've played for throughout the world I've been successful with.

"I was successful with Manchester United and always said I'd never want to play for another English club.

"I had a lot of history with Manchester United. It's the team I support and the team I dreamt of playing for.

"I'm very honoured by the offers I had from other Premier League clubs but I didn't want to play there unless it was for Manchester United."

Beckham refused to speculate if he would retire at the end of the season.

"I don't know if it'll be my last contract," he said.

"People always speculate that it'll be my last but they've done that for a number of years and I continue to play and sign new contracts.

"I want to continue to play as long as possible.

"My passion is football. When I play football it's not about the biggest contracts.

"I want to play for the biggest teams and with the best players.

"If I can continue to do that at the highest level, then who knows?"

Click here or click 'VIEW GALLERY' above to see more pictures of David Beckham in Paris

Unveiling Beckham to the media, Al-Khelaifi said: "We are very happy to welcome David Beckham to Paris.

"David refused a lot of offers from other clubs all over the world which makes it very special for us.

"He is a very professional player on the pitch and outside the pitch.

"I'm sure we're going to win a lot of things with David."

Al-Khelaifi also revealed PSG had been pursuing Beckham for some time.

"This is a big time - we've been trying to get him for a long time - today we did it."

The former England captain was pictured in Paris this morning undertaking a medical (above) which the player's representatives say he came through without any problems.

Beckham has been teasing over where he will finish his career ever since his contract with LA Galaxy expired late last year.

He announced he would be seeking one new challenge at a different club before retiring and the former Manchester United and Real Madrid player proceeded to be linked with just about every club in every corner of the globe.

However, Beckham has chosen to join the Ligue 1 leaders, a decision that conspired to steal the limelight away from transfer deadline day. Because Beckham is out of contract, there was no pressure to complete the deal before tonight's 11pm deadline.

At PSG the 37-year-old will link up with other big names players including Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Thiago Silva. Beckham will also be eligible to feature in this season's Champions League in which PSG will take on Valencia in the last-16 next month.

Should they progress, Beckham could conceivably feature against former club Manchester United in the quarter-finals of the competition. The Red Devils must first battle their way past Real Madrid though.

During today's press conference Beckham said PSG's qualification for the last-16 of the competition had not influenced his decision, instead insisting it was "the project" that attracted him to the club.

Should he win the league title at PSG, it would see him win a title in a fourth different country having won with United in England, Real in Spain and LA Galaxy in the United States.

Beckham revealed recently that wherever he chose to play his football, he would base his family in London. The decision to choose a club so close to the capital is likely to have taken that into consideration.

It's understood the presence of sporting director Leonardo, who Beckham worked with at AC Milan, as well as manager Carlo Ancelotti, helped swing the deal.

Beckham had been linked with a move to the Serie A club where he enjoyed two loan stints, and AC Milan director tweeted: "Very happy to see Beckham going to PSG and under Mr. Ancelotti again!"

"Great player and great person, he deserves It. Bonne chance!"

Beckham has recently been training with Arsenal to try to boost his fitness levels ahead of a move.

According to Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, Beckham, who started his career at Manchester United before moving to Real Madrid, will need to get in shape before he is ready to play matches.

Wenger said this week: "He told me that he doesn't look at all to be in shape. Beckham is super-ambitious.

"If, in his mind, he wanted to play in the Premier League he would not have gone on holiday. He would have prepared and come in and tried to impress me. He told me he has done nothing at all."

PSG have already concluded the biggest business of this transfer window after completing the signing of former Manchester United target Lucas Moura from Sao Paulo in a €45million deal.

Backham will become Ancelotti's latest signing after spending over €100m on Ezequiel Lavezzi, Thiago Silva, Marco Verratti, Gregory van der Wiel and Ibrahimovic during last transfer window in the summer.

PSG have spent over €200m since they were taken over by the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA). The new owners immediately signalled their intentions to make the Parisian outfit a European giant by breaking the French transfer record with the €42m acquisition of Javier Pastore from Palermo.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in