French legends trumpet Beckham arrival

Zinedine Zidane is impressed with the way Paris Saint-Germain target David Beckham handles the extreme scrutiny he is under.

The 36-year-old is widely expected to complete a high-profile move from the MLS to Ligue 1 in the coming days, with his contract in the US coming to an end on Saturday.

And Zidane, a former Real Madrid team-mate of Beckham’s, has spoken in glowing terms of the 115-times-capped England midfielder’s attitude in an interview with France Football.

“I don’t know how he manages to be so at ease outwardly on the pitch. He is almost a pop star. I couldn’t do that. It is incredible, especially given that he is as timid as me,” Zidane said.

The Madrid director added that Beckham’s arrival at the Bernabeu in 2003 made his own job easier in midfield.

“His arrival at Real made it possible to share the roles. I had less responsibility. In any case, that is the feeling I had,” Zidane said.

“When he came to Real, he was worried about what the team thought of him. In his integration, he worried about everything that was said about him in the media, and that it would constitute a problem for his performances.”

“But on the pitch, he has great technique and shows the combativeness typical of English players.”

Another former team-mate of Beckham’s, ex-Manchester United goalkeeper Fabien Barthez, also sung the praises of the former England skipper.

“On a professional level, he is very rigorous. He is a hard worker, and if you doubt it you must ask yourself why he is still playing football at his age,” Barthez said.

“If he had not been committed, he wouldn’t still be playing at close to 37 years of age.”

“He isn’t a complete footballer. He has a gift, that’s for sure. He has his right foot and a resistant physique, but he runs little and dribbles even less.”

“On the other hand, his free-kicks are amazing, so too when he crosses with his right foot. He destabilises the defence. From free-kicks he hits the mark.”

Beckham recently flew to Paris to meet club officials, with the curtain set to come down on his time with the Galaxy after their 2011 MLS Cup win last month.