Marco Verratti, the return. As has (too) often happened during his career, the 30-year-old Italian international midfielder has just spent a few weeks in the infirmary. In this case, he has not played since the defeat against Lyon (0-1) on April 2. A hamstring glitch that made him miss the matches against Nice (2-0) and Lens (3-1). He is operational to face the Angevin red lantern this Friday (9 p.m.), at the start of the 32nd day of Ligue 1. A match which could definitively condemn the Sco, but also bring Paris Saint-Germain a little closer to their 11th title of champion of France. It would also be the ninth for Verratti, who arrived at the club in 2012.
At the time, the native of Pescara was still just a kid, and unknown to the general public. He only played in Serie B (2nd division in Italy) and of course had not yet been called up with the Italian team. Paris, football France and the rest of Europe quickly got to know the qualities of this active and technically very safe midfielder. A real prodigy, raised on grain under the thumb of his compatriot Thiago Motta. “He’s been at PSG for many years, we all know his importance in the game and in the locker room,” summarizes Christophe Galtier. Verratti is 409 matches in Paris colors, not so far from the house record holder, Jean-Marc Pilorget and his 435 appearances in Rouge et Bleu.
A figure that the “Little Owl” – with whom Pep Guardiola said he was “in love” after a recital against City in 2021 – would have already largely reached if he were not so often injured… Let’s give Caesar what belongs to him: Verratti has managed to avoid the infirmary in recent months. Before the World Cup, he did not miss any matches through injury, only two due to the accumulation of cards. It didn’t last. And this while Italy was not at the World Cup. Thigh, hip, red card… Ten matches missed in 2023. And there was Munich, this loss of ball which cost so much during the round of 16 second leg against Bayern (2-0)… even if Galtier spoke more about the pass of the youngster (17 years old) El Chadaille Bitshiabu. “I had so many congratulations for a long time in France… There, I made a mistake, the criticisms are logical, he said in March, on Sky. I’m 30, I have broad shoulders, I’m the first to know when I’m wrong. That’s not going to stop me.”
This is obviously not what will make him progress either. And that’s the whole problem, even if Verratti’s qualities are obviously consistent, with and without the ball. His liabilities are just as important, as Jérôme Rothen insists, claiming to put him on the transfer market this summer on RMC radio. “These guys symbolize the failure of PSG in the European Cup”, promises the ex-Parisian putting Verratti and Marquinhos in the same bag. And to add, also campaigning for the departure of Leo Messi and Sergio Ramos: “We have to rebuild. There are good players on the market and PSG will have the financial means if they part with big salaries like that.
Severe but fair? One thing is certain: in 11 years at Paris-SG, Marco Verratti has never learned to score (11 goals, 61 assists), change his game or evolve in terms of invisible work. The Italian is known for his nocturnal outings, his fondness for cigarettes… At 30, it will start to feel more and more. And his taste for risk ball at the foot is only slightly compatible with a real role of sentry, as we saw on the side of the Allianz Arena …
Pitfalls already raised by Laurent Blanc during his time at Paris Saint-Germain, between 2013 and 2016, when the Italian international (53 caps, 3 goals) was still just a kid. “With “Bambino”, I told him what I perceived. Yes you are strong with the ball, yes you are strong, but you have to train, be on top physically. If you are not at the top physically, your game will not be highlighted”, he remembered in March, on Amazon Prime Video. And to add: “I think that the fact of not having replaced Thiago (Motta) was very detrimental for Marco’s game. And certainly, in his day-to-day life, Marco hasn’t done the needful… I say that because I love him!”
“Lolo White” is not the only one to like Marco Verratti. With his shimmering game and his bright smile, the ex-future player of FC Barcelona knows how to seduce. “Often he is the link between one and the other, he is jovial and focused on the competition. His season has been good. He was upset by injuries, but overall his season is good, ”judge Galtier, rejoicing to find his number 6, he who still has to do without Neymar, Presnel Kimpembe or Nordi Mukiele.
It remains to be seen whether Verratti, recently extended until 2026, still embodies the future of Paris-SG. For the main interested party, the answer is clear: he feels “good” on the banks of the Seine and still “dreams” of winning the C1. “I will try as much as possible”, he underlined, he who is also not about to lose his joy of living, of playing. “I’m happy every time I go to train. I like football. Sport is made up of victories and defeats, so I’m not going to lose my love for football for a few defeats,” he said at a press conference during the last meeting with the Italian team. Represent his country? “Something beautiful! I’m happy here, but I’m also happy in Paris,” he smiles.
Same story on the side of Galtier, who also ensures that he is working on the outlines of the team in 2022-23… even if Paris is already working to find him a successor. “Are we planning with him for next season? He extended. He is an important player in the locker room, I repeat, because of his tactical knowledge, his ability to also make the link between one and the other on the ground, it is the first relay that we find when we are defender, but also the one who triggers very important passes in the heart of the game in order to find attacking players. He is in any case available for Angers”, deciphers the 56-year-old Marseille technician.
That is indeed a certainty. And in these troubled times in Paris, with in particular the “Galtier affair” but also more than disappointing performances on the meadow, it is not luxury. “I’m doing well. I am very focused on work, it allows me to be active. I know the importance of winning this title”, promises Galtier before this clash of extremes against a team from Angers that he expects “150% motivation and determination, without any pressure of the result. In my opinion, it will be a very open match. Charge to Verratti – who would perhaps be the first beneficiary of the arrival of a tough coach like José Mourinho – and company to ensure that the meeting is not so open as that… A setback for the red lantern, it would stain, even in a season as dull as that…
