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Beckham 'excited' by possible 'Classique' debut for PSG

February 24, 2013 -- Updated 2200 GMT (0600 HKT)
David Beckham waves after his team Paris St. Germain played Brest in<a href='http://www.cnn.com/2013/05/18/sport/football/football-psg-beckham-farewell-game/index.html?hpt=hp_t2' target='_blank'> his final home match</a> in Paris on Saturday, May 18. Beckham <a href='http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2013/01/31/beckham-to-join-paris-saint-germain-club-says/'>signed on with the team</a> just a few months ago, and now <a href='http://www.cnn.com/2013/05/16/sport/football/david-beckham-retires-football/index.html?hpt=hp_t2'>he is retiring.</a> Click through for a look back at Beckham through the years. David Beckham waves after his team Paris St. Germain played Brest in his final home match in Paris on Saturday, May 18. Beckham signed on with the team just a few months ago, and now he is retiring. Click through for a look back at Beckham through the years.
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David Beckham through the years
David Beckham through the years
Making his debut
Getting pumped
All wet
Photos: David Beckham through the years
Repping his homeland
Hobnobing with celebs
Loving the fans
Family guy
The entreprenuer
The Los Angeles resident
Kicking it like ...
The pitchman
To the Galaxy and beyond
The thinker
A prince among royals
Golden award moments
Photos: David Beckham through the years
Powering through for Olympics
A name brand
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STORY HIGHLIGHTS
  • David Beckham named in a 20-man squad for Paris Saint-Germain's match on Sunday
  • Veteran soccer icon hoping to make his debut in match against "Classique" rivals Marseille
  • PSG manager Carlo Ancelotti refuses to confirm that midfielder will take part in match
  • Beckham's former club Manchester United extend English league lead to 15 points

(CNN) -- On the day one of his former clubs marched closer to yet another title, David Beckham was relishing the prospect of making his debut for Paris Saint-Germain in one of French football's biggest fixtures.

The ex-Manchester United star has been named in the PSG squad for Sunday's home clash with third-placed Marseille, the only French team to ever win the European title.

"Le Classique" has come to prominence again following both clubs' return to fortunes -- league-leading PSG's due to an influx of Qatari cash, and Marseille's after a humiliating spell outside the top flight thanks to a match-fixing scandal.

"I played a lot of big games in my career, such as duels between AC Milan and Inter, Real Madrid and Barcelona, or the Galaxy and Chivas," Beckham told PSG's official website after being named in a 20-man squad.

"I think it's very exciting to discover a new very special game."

Hundreds of fans and journalists flocked to the Paris Saint-Germain training ground Wednesday to get a glimpse of David Beckham in action on the practice field. The interest in Beckham's move to the French club has caused huge excitement with the anticipation building ahead of the midfielder's possible debut on Sunday. Hundreds of fans and journalists flocked to the Paris Saint-Germain training ground Wednesday to get a glimpse of David Beckham in action on the practice field. The interest in Beckham's move to the French club has caused huge excitement with the anticipation building ahead of the midfielder's possible debut on Sunday.
Beckham mania
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\'Box Office\' Beckham thrills French audience 'Box Office' Beckham thrills French audience

Beckham will not be the only superstar on show on Sunday -- his former Real Madrid teammate, Brazilian World Cup winner Ronaldo, has been invited to the match as a special guest.

David Beckham shows off undies in new ad
David Beckham ended his five-year stint in America's pro soccer league in style Saturday as his team, the Los Angeles Galaxy, won the MLS Cup. The Galaxy defeated the Houston Dynamo 3-1 to win the cup for the second year in a row. Nearly two weeks ago, the team announced that Saturday's game would be Beckham's last with the team. Pictured, Beckham addresses the media after the game on Saturday, December 1, in Carson, California. David Beckham ended his five-year stint in America's pro soccer league in style Saturday as his team, the Los Angeles Galaxy, won the MLS Cup. The Galaxy defeated the Houston Dynamo 3-1 to win the cup for the second year in a row. Nearly two weeks ago, the team announced that Saturday's game would be Beckham's last with the team. Pictured, Beckham addresses the media after the game on Saturday, December 1, in Carson, California.
David Beckham's last U.S. game
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Photos: David Beckham\'s last U.S. game Photos: David Beckham's last U.S. game
French football club spends big

PSG coach Carlo Ancelotti was wary of confirming that Beckham will make his first appearance since agreeing a five-month deal on the final day of the January transfer window, when the 37-year-old English soccer icon promised to give his wages to a children's charity in Paris.

"He will be available but I don't want to reveal the team," the Italian told reporters on Saturday.

"He has worked well and is in good state physically and mentally. He wants to play and he is in a condition to start. He is capable of playing a full match."

PSG will be looking to bounce back from a 3-2 defeat by Sochaux, which left the club three points clear of second-placed Lyon.

Manchester United stayed on course for a record-extending 20th English title by beating the Premier League's bottom club Queens Park Rangers 2-0 on Saturday to extend the team's lead to 15 points.

Second-placed Manchester City will seek to cut that gap by beating third-placed Chelsea on Sunday, while Tottenham could go above the deposed European champions with victory at London rivals West Ham on Monday.

United's top scorer Robin van Persie injured a hip in the buildup to defender Rafael's opening goal against QPR, but is expected to be fit for the Champions League last-16 clash with Real Madrid on March 5.

"He collided with a camera, which was in a dug-out piece of ground. He hit the base of it and has a very bruised hip," United boss Alex Ferguson said of the 19-goal Dutchman.

Ryan Giggs celebrated his 999th United appearance by scoring the second goal with 10 minutes left.

Fifth-placed Arsenal moved to within a point of Tottenham as Spain midfielder Santi Cazorla scored both goals in a 2-1 victory over third-bottom Aston Villa to relieve the pressure on manager Arsene Wenger.

Sixth-placed Everton's Champions League hopes suffered a big blow with a 2-1 defeat at Norwich, while West Brom moved up to seventh with a 2-1 win at home to Sunderland thanks to a double from on-loan Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku.

Wigan moved out of the relegation zone with a 3-0 victory at second-bottom reading, as Ivory coast striker Arouna Kone netted twice.

Former Manchester United striker Dimitar Berbatov scored the only goal of the early midtable game against Stoke, his eighth this season.

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