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Beckham Back in Europe, at Paris Saint-Germain Beckham Back in Europe, at Paris Saint-Germain
(about 4 hours later)
LONDON — The Beckhams are back in Europe.LONDON — The Beckhams are back in Europe.
Almost six years after departing mainstream soccer to pitch camp close to Hollywood, David Beckham flew to France on Thursday to be presented as the latest luxury item purchased for Paris Saint-Germain by its Qatari owners.Almost six years after departing mainstream soccer to pitch camp close to Hollywood, David Beckham flew to France on Thursday to be presented as the latest luxury item purchased for Paris Saint-Germain by its Qatari owners.
Beckham will turn 38 on May 2. Whatever physical speed he had, which was never outstanding, has diminished. He is unlikely, even in the comparatively less frenetic French league, to return as the winger he once was with Manchester United and Real Madrid.Beckham will turn 38 on May 2. Whatever physical speed he had, which was never outstanding, has diminished. He is unlikely, even in the comparatively less frenetic French league, to return as the winger he once was with Manchester United and Real Madrid.
That all ended almost six years ago, when Beckham left Europe to become the brand image of Major League Soccer in the United States. He lived closer to Hollywood, in style and performance, and was able to command a role for himself as a kind of quarterback, using his one great trait: the distribution of the ball from deeper positions. That all ended when Beckham left Europe to become the brand image of Major League Soccer in the United States. He lived closer to Hollywood, in style and performance, and was able to command a role for himself as a kind of quarterback, using his one great trait: distribution of the ball from deeper positions.
P.S.G. is a serious soccer project. It has been collecting top-notch global players for two years now. The least that is expected from its $300 million outlay on stars like Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Thiago Motta and Javier Pastore is that they win Ligue 1 and make headway in the Champions League.P.S.G. is a serious soccer project. It has been collecting top-notch global players for two years now. The least that is expected from its $300 million outlay on stars like Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Thiago Motta and Javier Pastore is that they win Ligue 1 and make headway in the Champions League.
How will a quarterback fit into that dynamic?How will a quarterback fit into that dynamic?
How will Beckham, even if he returns as fit as a near 38-year-old can be, fare in a French league where P.S.G. is barely able to stay on top? And how might his presence alter the style, and the dressing-room camaraderie, just one month before the Paris team opposes Valencia of Spain in the Champions League?How will Beckham, even if he returns as fit as a near 38-year-old can be, fare in a French league where P.S.G. is barely able to stay on top? And how might his presence alter the style, and the dressing-room camaraderie, just one month before the Paris team opposes Valencia of Spain in the Champions League?
Any other questions — about the effect on the club brand and on creating awareness for the Qatari project, for example — are possibly the easy part.Any other questions — about the effect on the club brand and on creating awareness for the Qatari project, for example — are possibly the easy part.
When P.S.G. last bid for Beckham a year ago, and lost out with his decision to give the Los Angeles Galaxy one more season, Nasser al-Khelaifi, the man who guides the soccer operations of the club for the ruling family of Qatar, said: “Beckham is bigger than sport. He is an ambassador, a brand, an example for others. He is also a very good player whose age isn’t a problem.”When P.S.G. last bid for Beckham a year ago, and lost out with his decision to give the Los Angeles Galaxy one more season, Nasser al-Khelaifi, the man who guides the soccer operations of the club for the ruling family of Qatar, said: “Beckham is bigger than sport. He is an ambassador, a brand, an example for others. He is also a very good player whose age isn’t a problem.”
Only the last sentence of that assessment is open to dispute.Only the last sentence of that assessment is open to dispute.
David Beckham and his wife, Victoria, certainly know how to spin or to sell a brand. They move in circles that transcend soccer in all areas bar one — the vital one of performance on the field.David Beckham and his wife, Victoria, certainly know how to spin or to sell a brand. They move in circles that transcend soccer in all areas bar one — the vital one of performance on the field.
The Beckhams and their four children are now committed to resettling in London, the home city to both parents before David went north to Manchester to make his fortune and before Victoria became Posh Spice in the Spice Girls pop group.The Beckhams and their four children are now committed to resettling in London, the home city to both parents before David went north to Manchester to make his fortune and before Victoria became Posh Spice in the Spice Girls pop group.
Their business adviser, Simon Fuller, now also guides the global sales side of athletes like the Formula One racing driver Lewis Hamilton and the tennis player Andy Murray. One Beckham child, 10-year-old Romeo, has already modeled for Burberry, and another, 13-year-old Brooklyn, has had a junior soccer trial Chelsea.Their business adviser, Simon Fuller, now also guides the global sales side of athletes like the Formula One racing driver Lewis Hamilton and the tennis player Andy Murray. One Beckham child, 10-year-old Romeo, has already modeled for Burberry, and another, 13-year-old Brooklyn, has had a junior soccer trial Chelsea.
So the brand might be with us longer than the prime of David Beckham. Who knows? Long enough for father and son to play together on one team?So the brand might be with us longer than the prime of David Beckham. Who knows? Long enough for father and son to play together on one team?
Until then, the P.S.G. deal, initially for six months, is, in Beckham’s mind at least, more than window dressing, more than selling his latest team to a wider world audience. Beckham’s great personal charm worked on the Parisian media from the first minute of his presentation Thursday. He declared, in English, though he said he would brush up on his schoolboy French, that he would take no salary for the five months of his contract with P.S.G. Instead, the money will be donated to a children’s charity in the French capital.
It is, in all likelihood, a former star player wanting to get back to his roots. Beckham never really gave up the notion that he was not finished as a top European player. He had two brief stints on loan at A.C. Milan during the break between M.L.S. seasons, and each time his coach there was Carlo Ancelotti, now the coach at P.S.G. This was more than mere window dressing. Beckham never really gave up the notion that he was not finished as a top European player. He had two brief stints on loan at A.C. Milan during the break between M.L.S. seasons, and each time his coach there was Carlo Ancelotti, now the coach at P.S.G.
Ancelotti is a clever manager. He found a way to integrate whatever Beckham could contribute to the team. Now, some years later, Ancelotti and Beckham must repeat that trick, without upsetting the equilibrium of highly paid, highly self-esteemed players already at the club.Ancelotti is a clever manager. He found a way to integrate whatever Beckham could contribute to the team. Now, some years later, Ancelotti and Beckham must repeat that trick, without upsetting the equilibrium of highly paid, highly self-esteemed players already at the club.
This, whatever the image, is the real thing again. Beckham hasn’t outgrown his desire to test himself at the top of the sport. It will require considerable management and change the lives of all around the Parc des Princes, his new soccer home. This, whatever the image, is the real thing again. Beckham hasn’t outgrown his desire to test himself at the top of the sport. It will require considerable management and change the lives of all around Parc des Princes, his new soccer home.