Barcelona warned Real Madrid an ‘ideal exit door’ for PSG star

Robin Bairner

• Updated: 6 May 2023 21:33 BST
• 3 min read

A summer of renovation is set to take place at Paris Saint-Germain this summer, with numerous high-profile players set to leave.

Lionel Messi’s fate appears to have been decided, with the out-of-contract Argentina star set to leave Parc des Princes, although to which club is not yet clear, with Barcelona touted. The fans want Neymar to leave, and a switch to Manchester United has been mooted as a possibility if all the pieces fall into place, while another long-time star could depart Paris.

Marco Verratti was one of the first superstars to arrive during the QSI era in France, with the Italy international pinched from Pescara in 2012 for €12 million.

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The 30-year-old midfielder has since gone on to establish himself at the top of the world game but there is a sense that he has never quite reached his potential at PSG, despite being a key figure at the club where he has played 411 times.

Barcelona were enamoured with Verratti for years and were regularly linked with a player who was seen as a natural successor to Xavi and Andres Iniesta in the tiki-taka era. Had Barca had more fund, the report in L’Equipe that he could leave PSG in the summer would doubtless have pricked up ears at Camp Nou, but instead the Catalans must worry about him moving to rivals Real Madrid.

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Real Madrid to beat Barcelona to Verratti?

Indeed, Los Blancos are said to be “an ideal exit door” for Verratti, in part because of the strong bond he has with Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti.

But there are two reasons to cast doubt over the move. Firstly: will Ancelotti still be at the Bernabeu next season? And secondly: given the quality of midfielder that Madrid have, does signing him make sense?

Although Verratti appears fatigued with life at PSG, there are few clear paths for him.

Saudi Arabia and Inter Miami are possibilities – as they are for Messi – but the Italy star is said not to have made these destinations a priority.

Juventus and Inter might be more natural moves, meanwhile, but there are doubts as to whether either can afford him.

Perhaps there is still hope for Barcelona to land Verratti after all.