Italy midfielder Marco Verratti has made a significant career move, bidding farewell to Paris Saint-Germain after illustrious 11-year spell at the club. Verratti’s next destination is the Qatari club Al-Arabi, marking a fresh chapter in his career. The transfer fee for this move has made headlines, reportedly standing at around €45 million, setting a record for the Qatar league.
Verratti, who will celebrate his 31st birthday in November, initially joined PSG from the Serie B club Pescara in the summer of 2012. During his time with the French club, he secured the Ligue 1 title an impressive nine times. Additionally, Verratti played a pivotal role in PSG’s journey to the final of the 2019-20 UEFA Champions League, where they narrowly fell short, succumbing to a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Bayern Munich.
Notably, Verratti played a crucial role in Italy’s triumphant Euro 2020 campaign, further solidifying his reputation as a top-class midfielder. During the summer transfer window, there were speculations linking him with a potential move to Saudi Arabia, but he ultimately opted for Qatar.
Verratti’s departure from PSG marks the end of a remarkable era, with the midfielder accumulating 416 appearances for the club. This achievement places him as the second-highest appearance maker in PSG’s history, trailing only Jean-Marc Pilorget, who holds the record with 435 appearances.
Verratti’s time at PSG was laden with success, as he collected an impressive tally of 30 trophies during his tenure. Reflecting on his time at the club, the player expressed his pride in wearing PSG’s colours for over a decade. He acknowledged the privilege of sharing the pitch with numerous great players and the joy of securing numerous trophies.
PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi praised Verratti’s contributions and stated that the midfielder would always be associated with the club’s rich history. He extended his best wishes to Verratti as he embarks on a new adventure with Al-Arabi.
In his new chapter with Al-Arabi, Verratti has inked a three-year contract with the Qatar Stars League club, signifying his commitment to this new endeavour. The reported transfer fee of €45 million underscores the significance of this move, making it a record-breaking deal for the Qatar league.
