Paris Saint-Germain striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic feels David Beckham has taken on an important leadership role at the club.
Having left the Los
Angeles Galaxy, Beckham signed a five-month contract with PSG in
January and has since made eight appearances for the Qatari-owned
outfit, including a start in their 2-2 UEFA Champions League
quarter-final first leg against Barcelona in Paris last week.
Speaking
about the 37-year-old former Manchester United, Real Madrid and AC
Milan midfielder ahead of tomorrow's second leg, Ibrahimovic told CNN:
"I think he has been very important for us. Because in the situation
that we are in now, the club has been changing from a normal club to a
top club, and Beckham gives you some kind of confidence.
"He
has the responsibility, on the pitch and off the pitch, to lead the way
for these two months (which) is very important. He has a quality, a big
quality; he has a touch that I haven't seen many players have. And he
is very elegant when he plays."
Beckham and
Ibrahimovic are the two most high-profile among a number of notable
signings PSG have made over the past couple of years following their
Qatari takeover.
And Ibrahimovic, a former
Barcelona player who joined the Ligue 1 leaders from AC Milan last
summer, admits he is glad the former England captain is now helping
share the spotlight.
"I think it's good for
me that Beckham came so he gets more attention than me, so they leave
me a little bit alone," Swedish international Ibrahimovic said. "When I
came here everybody said 'don't worry, as a football player you can walk
in the city and nobody will disturb you. Because as a football player
here it is not like it is in Italy'.
"But
since the day I came here it's been totally stressful. Everybody is
chasing me with their scooters; I don't even walk in the streets. When
David came he got more of the media attraction, so that's good because
he takes care of that and I can play football, focus on football."
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