Transfer talk: No truth to Barcelona rumours, says PSG's Marco Verratti

Add as a preferred source on Google

Bengaluru, March 20: Italian midfielder Marco Verratti has denied all rumours that he's set for a move to Barcelona in the next summer and has declared his plans to stay put at Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). Talking to Gazzetta dello Sport, Marco Verratti recently claimed, "I have read that Raiola (agent Mino Raiola) has offered me to Barcelona – it’s false. I have talked with my managers, they know what I think, things are clear. I decided to stay. I have the right to win with the PSG that allowed me to grow as a man, and to share an ambitious project, I hope my companions also think like this because a defeat cannot eliminate everything."

Verratti has been with PSG since the beginning of the 2012/13 season.

Verratti also spoke about their recent 2017/18 UEFA Champions League exit, where they lost to Real Madrid in the Round of 16. After losing the first leg 1-3 at Madrid, PSG went on to lose the return leg 1-2.

Speaking of Madrid, who won the last two UCLs, Verratti said, “Real is a tough opponent, but we were convinced to move in. The PSG is not so far from Real.”

During the return leg, the Italian midfielder was sent off after receiving two yellow cards. However, he couldn’t agree on the second yellow card and compared the situation with Lionel Messi’s protest.

Verratti said: "I was wrong with Real, but it's a frustrating red, sometimes the referees could be more tolerant. I had a rough reaction, but I did not insult anyone, while Messi protesting pointing his finger at the referee did not even come punished, but I have to improve."

Verratti also pointed out that Neymar’s unavailability in the return leg was a big factor for PSG’s early exit from the UCL.

Talking about Neymar’s unavailability in the return leg due to an injury, Verratti said, "It's like taking away Messi from Barcelona, they're the players who make 30% of a team, we're lucky to have it with us, they paid so much because it's a phenomenon."

Italy will not be seen at the upcoming 2018 World Cup and Verratti says he's gutted that his team could not qualify for the World Cup. "The wound is open and it will be very painful when we see the World Cup on TV. It was a total failure, and the fact that we had Spain in the group probably pushed us not to believe in us all the way," he added.