Paris Saint Germain stalwart Marco Verratti could be on his way out of the club. The Italian midfielder looks to have lost his starting spot under Luis Enrique, opening up the possibility of a transfer. As per reports, the 30-year-old has already attracted inquiries from the Premier League and the Saudi Pro League.
SPL outfit Al-Ahli is currently the frontrunner for the Italian’s signature. Verratti has reportedly agreed to personal terms with the club. And if both sides agree on a transfer fee for the player, he could become the latest star to ply his trade in Saudi Arabia. However, the possibility of Verratti moving elsewhere remains open, as both Manchester United and Bayern Munich have also indicated their interest.
🚨💣 Manchester United and Bayern Munich have both shown an interest in signing Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Marco Verratti. [@lequipe]
Marco Verratti has agreed to join Al Ahli, but the Saudi club has not yet reached an agreement with Paris Saint-Germain.
There is also… pic.twitter.com/euZkW8NBpi
— Football Talk (@FootballTalkHQ) August 20, 2023
Both European sides are exploring the market for a holding midfielder to reinforce their teams. And in terms of experienced options, Verratti tops the list of candidates. The Euros winner has spent more than a decade in France, making 276 appearances for the Parisiens. During his spell, the Italian has earned plenty of game time in the Champions League, while establishing himself as a world-class No 6.
The 30-year-old would be a sound option for all three teams. But ultimately, the transfer fee offered to PSG could end up being the deciding factor.
Manchester United, Bayern Munich, or Al-Ahli: Where does Marco Verratti fit in?
The Azzurri International is famed for his press resistance and combativeness in midfield, qualities ideally associated with a holding midfielder. Verratti has a penchant for wriggling out of tight situations and facilitating his team’s build-up play.
On the statistical side, the Italian ranks in the 99th percentile for both passes completed and attempted. His progressive passes per 90 of 9.78 also bode well for his role at the heart of midfield. The defensive side of his game fares just as well, as suggested by his 3.23 tackles per 90.
Players with the most progressive passes in top 5 leagues this season :
🥇Messi : 133 (10.6 p90)
🥈Verratti : 125 (9.1 p90)
🥉Kimmich : 125 (8.8 p90)Progressors 🔝 pic.twitter.com/iYo1U7OEMB
— Gasipo (@gasipo_opinions) January 6, 2023
Stylistically, the midfielder would be a seamless fit at Manchester United. Erik Ten Hag’s side is currently dealing with a bit of imbalance in midfield. The lack of a deep-lying playmaker has hampered the Red Devils’ ability to break through pressing structures. With the addition of Verrattil, United would receive a player capable of maneuvering with the ball in his own half. He could also feed the inside 8’s in Mason Mount and Bruno Fernandes effectively.
At Bayern, the PSG man would be reunited with Thomas Tuchel. The German manager is known to be a fan of the midfielder. And he likely envisions Verratti in a midfield pivot alongside Joshua Kimmich. Verratti’s press resistance and ball progression rate would translate well to the Bavarian’s 4-2-4 buildup shape. His addition would also allow Kimmich additional freedom to pick up advanced positions.
Verratti no Bayern ao lado de Kimmich
Só maluco diria não pic.twitter.com/2VrY5WhVPf— Cultura Bayern (@CultBayern) August 10, 2023
A move to Al-Ahli would further solidify the SPL side’s title aspirations. The Saudi outfit has already constructed a formidable frontline composed of Riyadh Mahrez, Roberto Firmino, and Allan Saint-Maximin. Their recruitment of Franck Kessie was also a bit of a shrewd business. And the potential inclusion of Verratti would be the icing on the cake. He would slot in seamlessly as a part of a pivot alongside the Ivorian, enabling Kessie to fulfill his box-to-box role without having to worry about being caught in transition.