Ancelotti: Beckham could stay.

Paris St Germain coach Carlo Ancelotti would welcome the opportunity to extend David Beckham's short-term contract.



Beckham arrived in France amid much fanfare in January, signing a deal which is due to run until the end of the season.

He is now 37 years of age and has spent much of the last five years away from Europe in the American MLS.

The former England captain has, however, not looked out of place at a club pushing hard for the Ligue 1 title and readying themselves for a UEFA Champions League quarter-final.

Ancelotti sees no reason why Beckham could not play on past the end of the current campaign, and hopes he can be convinced to prolong his stay in the French capital.

He said: "I would really like Beckham to extend his contract but, once again, it's a decision the player has to take in agreement with the club. But I'm in favour of it."

Beckham has faced criticism from some quarters for heading to China during the recent international break as part of an ambassadorial role, but Ancelotti claims the veteran midfielder headed to the Far East with PSG's blessing.

He added: "If he went to China, it's because everyone agreed that he could go. There's no problem. Not for me, not for the club, not for the players. I also agreed.



"I didn't understand that debate provoked by his trip. He had commitments before signing for PSG. Some had a holiday, he went to China."

Beckham begins Beijing role

David Beckham has arrived in Beijing to begin his role as China's first global football ambassador.

The former England captain, who will combine the job with playing for Paris Saint Germain, was met by a media scrum and thousands of fans at the start of his four-day visit.

Beckham will attend league matches in China and visit schools to promote the game at grassroots level.

The 37-year-old said earlier this month that he was "excited by the prospect of promoting the world's greatest game to Chinese sports fans".

Chinese football is working to recover from a match-fixing scandal that has seen several top officials, players and referees jailed or banned.

Television viewing figures for foreign leagues far outnumber those for the tarnished domestic league, while the national side failed to qualify for next year's World Cup.

Barcelona handed PSG clash

Barcelona have been drawn against Paris St Germain in the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League.

Favourites Barca booked their place in the last eight thanks to their 4-0 victory over AC Milan in the second leg of their last-16 tie on Tuesday to complete a 4-2 aggregate success.

Big-spending French side PSG progressed after seeing off Valencia 3-2 on aggregate, although Beckham was only an unused substitute in the second leg.

Paris St Germain sports director Leonardo said: "We are going to play against the best team. It is not easy but no draw would have been easy anyway. Paris deserves to be part of the big party."

The possibility remains of a clash of the Spanish giants in the final at Wembley on May 25 after Real Madrid were paired with Galatasaray in the quarter-finals, a game that should see Real boss Jose Mourinho lock horns with former Chelsea striker Didier Drogba, who now plays for the Turkish club.

Spain's third representatives, Malaga, have been drawn against Borussia Dortmund, while last year's beaten finalists Bayern Munich, who stuttered past Arsenal on Wednesday, will take on Celtic's conquerors Juventus.

Bayern chief executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said: "That is certainly not a dream draw for us.

"Statistically we have not had good experiences with Juventus. It will be difficult and we will need to have two good days against them to reach the semis."

Borrussia Dortmund sports director Michael Zorc was content with the draw after the Bundesliga champions were paired with Malaga.

"We can live with this draw," he said. "At least it is better than playing Barcelona, Real or Bayern."

The Premier League does not have a team in the Champions League quarter-finals for the first time since the 1995-96 season.

Champions League quarter-final draw: Malaga v Borussia Dortmund, Real Madrid v Galatasaray, Paris Saint-Germain v Barcelona, Bayern Munich v Juventus.



Fixtures:

April 2:

PSG v Barcelona

Bayern Munich v Juventus

April 3:

Malaga v Borussia Dortmund

Real Madrid v Galatasaray

April 9:

Borussia Dortmund v Malaga

Galatasaray v Real Madrid

April 10:

Barcelona v PSG

Juventus v Bayern Munich

Leonardo: No Rooney offer

Paris Saint Germain sporting director Leonardo has told that the club have not made a move for Wayne Rooney, but they do like the Manchester United striker.

Leonardo admitted that PSG are in a fortunate position in terms of finances, and they could attract big players such as Rooney.

But he insisted that the club did not make an approach for him last summer and have never made a move for him.

Rooney was dropped for the second leg of Manchester United's Champions League defeat to Real Madrid last week - which led to intense speculation about his future, and PSG were talked about as a possible destination.

"Paris Saint Germain became a team who can buy all the players, the opposite of the other clubs," Leonardo told Sky Sports News.

"It is nice some big players, not only Rooney, they want to come to come. It is something we are happy with, not talking about Rooney.

"I think he is one of the best players in the world."

Asked if they made a move in the summer for Rooney, he replied: "No, no, we did nothing and never did, and if we do the first one will be Manchester United, at the moment there is nothing."

Leonardo also reaffirmed PSG's happiness with David Beckham, insisting he could extend his stay with the club.

"I think David is very important, it is the beginning of the project," he said.

"David is like all the other players and is already important.

"When you decide something for the future, that is his opinion and our opinion and after the season we have to see how we are.

"It is important to finish this season and if he wants to continue with us he will. It is our choice, and his choice, but we have a very good feeling, he is very happy in Paris, he is playing in the team with big ambition for the future and he will be important for the future and the door will always be open for David as long as he wants."

PSG defeat Nancy, Lille win

Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored twice as Paris Saint-Germain saw off Nancy 2-1 in Ligue 1, while Lille beat Valenciennes 3-1.



David Beckham had to make do with a cameo substitute appearance as his Swedish club-mate stole the attention with two second-half goals, following Benjamin Moukandjo's first-half opener for the visitors.

Victory for PSG lifted them five points clear at the summit, ahead of Sunday's clash between second-placed Lyon and third-placed Marseille, while a fourth league defeat in five for their opponents left them six points adrift of safety.

Lille came from behind to beat Valenciennes 3-1 at the Stade du Hainaut and extend their Ligue 1 winning streak to five matches.

Maor Melikson had given mid-table Valenciennes a first-half lead, but Rudi Garcia's men slipped into another gear after the break, with goals from Ronny Rodelin, Tulio de Melo and Benoit Pedretti earning the three points.

Lower down the ladder, Evian responded to coach Pascal Dupraz's pre-match pleas with an emphatic 5-1 win over fellow strugglers Sochaux to move out of the relegation zone.

Dupraz had claimed that psychologically the game was "worth a thousand points", with Evian lying three points behind their opponents who occupied the last position above the drop zone.

By the time Cedric Barbosa and Saber Khelifa had scored twice apiece, Kevin Berigaud adding another to render Cedric Bakambu's 53rd-minute equaliser irrelevant, Evian had jumped two places to 16th and it was their shell-shocked opponents who were left residing in the bottom three.

Brest remained looking over their shoulder at the relegation places after losing 1-0 at home to Toulouse. Landry Chauvin's side headed into the game five points above the drop zone but Adrien Rabiot's goal on the stroke of half-time - coupled with Evian's win - saw Brest's margin over the bottom three shrink to just two points. Toulouse, meanwhile, climbed to 11th.

It was a dramatic night in the lower reaches and a woeful display from Reims goalkeeper Kossi Agassa helped Troyes lift themselves off the foot of the table and drag the away side ever closer to the drop zone after a 4-2 win.

Goals from Corentin Jean and Julien Faussurier put the home two in front with an hour gone before a late scoring spree, including Jean's second and a late effort from Mohamed Yattare added to the excitement.

Nicolas de Preville and Odair Fortes were on target for the visitors, making it 2-1 and then 3-2.

Finally, Ajaccio moved clear of the danger zone as Ronald Zubar's second-half goal earned them a 1-0 victory over Lorient. The former Wolves defender lashed home a powerful shot in the 75th minute.

Beckham ready to rejoin elite

David Beckham says he still has the passion of a 21-year-old as he prepares to return to the Champions League on Wednesday night.

David Beckham could make his return to the UEFA Champions League stage when Paris St Germain host Valencia with a place in the quarter-finals at stake on Wednesday night.

The former England captain is in line to play some part in the second leg of Paris St Germain's last-16 tie with Valencia - almost three years to the day since he was part of a Milan side beaten 4-0 at Manchester United.

And in an interview with Sky Sports Beckham, 37, insisted he still has plenty to contribute at elite level in Europe.

He said: "I might not be able to run as much as I used to when I was 21, but I'll try.

"I can still get around the pitch and still play the balls I play. My passion hasn't changed, my energy hasn't changed, the way i want to win a game hasn't changed, so it's pretty much the same."

Carlo Ancelotti's side lead 2-1 from the away leg in Spain, though a last-minute Adil Rami goal and Zlatan Ibrahimovic's injury-time dismissal mean Valencia travel to France with some hope.

Ibrahimovic is banned for the second leg and PSG's next game, and Beckham said: "It makes it a little bit more difficult, but this team's definitely capable of progressing."



Beckham has started one game and made two substitute appearances in his short time in Paris, and Ancelotti said: "He's played well with no problems. He's arrived in the team with his quality, with his character."

Beckham begins PSG training

Paris Saint-Germain signing David Beckham joined up with his new teammates for the first time at training on Wednesday.



The former England captain signed a five-month contract with the Ligue 1 leaders on transfer deadline day in January.



The 37-year-old was put through his paces in training with club director Leonardo watching from the sidelines.



Beckham travelled to Spain with Carlo Ancelotti's men for their 2-1 first-leg win over Valencia in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday.



He could make his PSG debut against Sochaux on Sunday, but the midfielder's lack of match fitness may mean he comes off the bench.



Beckham has not played a competitive match since helping former side the Los Angeles Galaxy to the MLS Cup in December.



PSG sit six points clear at the top as they search for their first top-flight title since 1993/94.

Ancelotti is uncertain about his future

Paris Saint-Germain coach Carlo Ancelotti is uncertain about his future with the club

He has not yet opened talks over extending his contract with president Nasser Al-Khelaifi.



Ancelotti joined in December 2011 on a two-and-a-half year deal, but the final year is optional and must be renewed by PSG, who currently top Ligue 1, depending on results this season.



The Italian tells L'Equipe: "We will see how things stand at the end of the season and, if the club is happy, and me too, we will continue," but he adds: "If the club is not happy, I will have no problem changing."

Zlatan Ibrahimovic mocks a referee

Referees are routinely criticized by players, managers and fans, but that usually doesn't involve a derpy impression of them. Unless it's Zlatan Ibrahimovic doing the criticizing.



Frustrated by teammate Thiago Motta's first-half sending off and his own booking in the final minutes of PSG's 0-0 draw against Ajaccio on Friday, Zlatan gave the ref a critique of his performance that included a funny face that needs to be put on a T-shirt immediately.



Feel the violent fury of Zlatan's facial mocking.