Beckham brings peace for Ibrahimovic

LONDON. April 11. KAZINDFORM A-list celebrities and big pay packets are full to the brim in the Paris Saint-Germain dressing room, but you won't find Zlatan Ibrahimovic complaining.

photo: QAZINFORM

In fact he is absolutely delighted that David Beckham has joined him at PSG.

Was it because of Beckham's ability to hit pinpoint crosses and corner kicks? That helps. But mostly Beckham's arrival in the French capital has meant the paparazzi are leaving Ibrahimovic in peace.

The 31-year-old Swede was sold to PSG from AC Milan as part of a summer clear-out by the Italian club while Beckham, one of the most recognized people in the world, signed with the French club on a free transfer in January, kazinform has learnt from CNN.

"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," Ibrahimovic told CNN.

"Since 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 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.

"So when David came he got more of the media (attention). That's good because he takes care of that and I can play football and focus on football."

When PSG signed Beckham, many said the move was simply an exercise in public relations meant to bolster the profile of the team, which is backed by wealthy Qatari owners -- the Qatar Investment Authority.

But Beckham has been frequently used by PSG coach Carlo Ancelotti, though the Englishman was criticized by the French press for his performance against Barcelona -- one of Ibrahimovic's former teams -- in the Champions League quarterfinals last week when the sides played to a 2-2 first-leg tie in Paris.

A surprise starter, Beckham was substituted with 20 minutes remaining.

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