Paris Saint-Germain will experience a summer of renovation with the departure of many top players.
The fate of Lionel Messi seems to have been decided, the Argentine star at the end of the contract having to leave the Parc des Princes, even if it is not yet known to which club, FC Barcelona being cited. Fans are keen for Neymar to leave, and a move to Manchester United has been mooted as a possibility if all the elements fall into place, while another longtime star could leave Paris.
Read also – Cassano takes out the sulfateuse against Lukaku
Marco Verratti was one of the first superstars to arrive under the QSI era in France, with the Italy international snapped up from Pescara in 2012 for €12m.
The 30-year-old midfielder has since established himself at the highest level in the world, but it feels like he never reached his potential at PSG, despite being a key figure at the club where he played. played 411 times.
FC Barcelona have been infatuated with Verratti for years and have been regularly linked with a player seen as the natural successor to Xavi and Andres Iniesta in the tiki-taka era. Had Barca had more funds available, L’Equipe’s news that he could leave PSG this summer would no doubt have raised ears at Camp Nou, but instead the Catalans have to worry about see him go to rival Real Madrid.
Real Madrid ahead of FC Barcelona for Verratti?
Indeed, Los Blancos would be ‘an ideal exit door’ for Verratti, not least because of his close ties with Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti.
Read also – Cassano takes out the sulfateuse against Lukaku
But there are two reasons to doubt this transfer. Firstly, will Ancelotti still be at the Bernabeu next season? And secondly: given the quality of the midfield that Madrid have, does it make sense to sign him?
Although Verratti seems tired of life at PSG, there aren’t many possibilities for him.
Saudi Arabia and Inter Miami are possibilities – as with Messi – but the Italian star wouldn’t have made those destinations a priority.
Juventus and Inter would be more natural destinations, but it’s unclear whether either can afford him.
There may still be hope for Barcelona to bring in Verratti.
