Verratti wants to quit PSG and join Messi at Barcelona

Carlo Garganese

• 17 May 2023 19:50 BST
• 3 min read

Marco Verratti could join Lionel Messi at Barcelona next season.

According to RMC Sport, Verratti is the latest big-name star that wants to quit PSG, following in the footsteps of Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe.

The report states that Messi and Verratti are close friends and the Italian has made it clear that he wants to be at the same club as the Argentine “no matter what”.

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Messi’s contract at PSG expires at the end of the season and it is now widely accepted he will leave on a free transfer next month.

Barca are currently embroiled in a two-way battle for Messi’s signature with Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal.

But Laporta, who revealed he recently had a positive talk with Messi, insists that the 35-year-old will choose Barcelona as his next club.

Barcelona are currently working on a deal to bring Messi back to Camp Nou on a Bosman transfer, two years after he left to join PSG.

But a transfer will be difficult because of Barcelona’s well-publicised financial crisis.

Messi is also a confirmed target for Al-Hilal and has been in negotiations over joining them on a free transfer for several weeks.

It has been reported that Al-Hilal have offered Messi a contract in the region of €400 million a year.

This would be a world record salary but it is believed that Messi would rather return to Barcelona.

Will Verratti join Barcelona?

The chances of Verratti joining Messi at Barcelona given the Blaugrana’s economic problems appear slim.

But Verratti’s relationship with PSG and the club’s fans have soured after a decade in Paris.

He was close to signing for Barcelona in 2017, only for PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi to step in and stop the move.

Barcelona are looking for a new central midfielder but the costs involved in bringing Verratti to Camp Nou will likely be prohibitive.

FootballTransfers reported on Tuesday that Barcelona were also looking at a sensational Messi-Neymar double deal to bring back both of their former stars.