(Football news) Midfielder Marco Verratti has agreed to a new four-year deal with PSG. The Italian international has established a reputation as one of Europe’s one of the best midfielders during his 10 years at the Parc des Princes. Verratti left Pescara in 2012 to join PSG for a mere €12m (£10.4m) fee, and the 30-year-old has since then scored 11 goals and 61 assists in 398 games for the Parisiens. Verratti has gone on to win eight Ligue 1 titles, six Coupe de France crowns, six Coupe de la Ligues and nine Trophée des Champions titles since arriving in France, as he was also a part of Italy’s Euro 2020-winning squad. The midfielder has been an integral part of the PSG squad since Christophe Galtier took charge in the summer.
Verratti has missed only 96 matches since the start of the 2015-16 season and his contract at the Parc des Princes is due to expire in the summer of 2024. However, Fabrizio Romano now reports that the Italian international will sign a new four-year deal to keep him with the Ligue 1 champions till the end of the 2025-26 campaign. Romano further adds that Verratti never considered leaving PSG and only wanted to stay with the capital club, and official confirmation will come soon.
PSG have boosted their midfield over the summer with four new faces, and Verratti has tended to partner up with Vitinha in the heart of Galtier’s midfield. The former Pescara youngster has kept the likes of Carlos Soler, Fabian Ruiz and Renato Sanches in reserve. Verratti’s new deal comes after PSG agreed a massive new contract with Kylian Mbappe until 2025 earlier this year, and Nasser Al-Khelaifi is now expected to prioritise Lionel Messi’s as the rumour mill suggested that he might join Inter Miami next year.
Messi could leave PSG as a free agent when his contract expires at the end of the season as PSG are reportedly planning to offer Messi a new deal following the World Cup. This season Galtier’s side have won 13 and drawn two of their opening 15 Ligue 1 games as they comfortably sit five points clear of Lens at the top of the table, and will take on Strasbourg in their first game back on December 28. PSG will take on Paris FC in a friendly on December 16 before also hosting Quevilly at Camp des Loges on December 21.
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