Italian midfielder Marco Verratti has revealed new details about the summer when he and several Paris Saint-Germain teammates encouraged Lionel Messi to join them in Paris.
On August 8, 2021, Lionel Messi confirmed his departure from Barcelona and his transfer to Paris Saint-Germain — one of the most high-profile moves in modern soccer history. While much has been written about that moment, Verratti, now playing in Qatar since 2023, shared a lesser-known story about how events unfolded.
In an interview with Italian outlet Gazzetta, Verratti recalled an unforgettable night in Ibiza with several PSG stars. “I remember a fantastic night that turned almost magical. We were in Ibiza, and Neymar came to tell me that we were going to have dinner with Leo Messi that night. So we ended up at the same table: Leo, Paredes, Ney, and Di María. We talked and had a great time,” Verratti said.
According to Verratti, that dinner unexpectedly played a role in Messi’s eventual move. “That night we encouraged him, so to speak, to come to Paris. We said goodbye and the next day we read that there were problems between him and Barcelona,” he explained.
“Early in the afternoon, Neymar called me: ‘Marco, Leo is coming with us.’ Incredible — from inviting him to dinner to having him as a teammate. A magical night”, the former PSG star added.
Verratti and Messi went on to play two seasons together at PSG, winning two Ligue 1 titles and a French Super Cup. Verratti had been with the Parisian club since 2012 and left ahead of the 2023-24 season, alongside other stars such as Neymar, Sergio Ramos, Georginio Wijnaldum, and Leandro Paredes, marking the end of an era for the team.
Verratti denies Luis Enrique’s role in PSG exit
The former PSG midfielder also addressed rumors that his departure was influenced by the arrival of coach Luis Enrique. “Ah, one thing: they wrote that I left PSG because Luis Enrique wanted me to. False. I assure you my conversation with Nasser (Al Khelaifi) was much earlier, when I told him I was leaving because I wanted new challenges. We’ve remained on very good terms; he’s a great person,” Verratti explained.
After more than a decade in Paris, Verratti left the club with over 400 appearances and an impressive 30 domestic trophies, including nine Ligue 1 titles, nine French Super Cups, six French Cups, and six French League Cups.
From: bolavip.com