Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) has released its official list of players called up for the current edition of the Champions League and a notable absence has captured the attention of fans and the sports press. Marco Verratti, the talented Italian midfielder, is not among the 25 selected, signaling a drastic turn in his relationship with the Parisian club.
Verratti’s history at PSG dates back to 2012, when at just 19 years old, he left his mark by signing for the team from Pescara. Under the direction of Nasser Al Khelaifi, who made him one of the first signings after the emir of Qatar bought the club, Verratti became an emblem of the Parisian team. Throughout the 11 seasons that he has been in Paris, he has resisted the seduction attempts of clubs like Barcelona and Real Madrid.
Marco Verratti, player of Paris Saint Germain | Photo: Getty Images
Despite not having captained the team, Verratti was a constant figure at PSG for years, seeing many stars like Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Edinson Cavani, Javier Pastore and Ezequiel Lavezzi pass by. However, his relationship with the leaders and the fans changed during the last season, especially after the elimination in the Champions League, where he was singled out along with Neymar and Messi.
The most shocking news came this week, when PSG published the list of players signed up for the Champions League group stage, and Verratti was not among those selected. As reported by the newspaper L’Equipe, this decision confirms that the club does not have him and is waiting for him to leave. With the closing of the transfer market in Europe, Verratti’s options are reduced, and he will have to decide between staying at PSG without playing minutes or looking for a new team in a lower level league.
Marco Verratti is not in coach Luis Enrique’s plans. | Photo: Getty Images
The striker Hugo Ekitike is not on the list for the Champions League either. This exclusion comes after Ekitike rejected an offer from Eintracht Frankfurt amid intense negotiations for Kolo Muani. PSG blames Ekitike in part for the delay in completing the transfer until the last hours of the market.
Where will Verratti play?
The Italian midfielder is reportedly close to joining Qatari club Al-Arabi, with whom PSG have been in talks in recent days.
Like Neymar, Marco Verratti would go to Asian football. | Photo: Getty Images
In addition, Verratti’s exclusion from the Italian team is also worrying, as he has not been called up for the upcoming matches against North Macedonia and Ukraine. His future in football, both at club and national team level, is uncertain at the moment.
2023-09-07 17:30:57
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