PSG midfielder wants to follow Lionel Messi next season – report

Today’s report from RMC Sport (h/t Mundo Deportivo) has claimed Marco Verratti is another candidate to leave Paris Saint-Germain this summer, as the club brace itself for a mass-exodus this summer.

The report also claimed that Verratti is prioritising a move to Real Madrid, but the Spanish giants have no intention of signing the Italian, as they are focusing on the pursuit of Jude Bellingham.

The report suggests Verratti’s initial wish is to follow Lionel Messi ‘wherever he goes’. The report points out how the PSG ultras consider Messi and Verratti as the two primary players behind the discontent brewing inside the club right now.

Therefore, it is plausible both may leave Parc des Princes at the end of the season. Messi, for his part, has been closely linked with a return to Camp Nou. Barcelona president Joan Laporta has made no secret of his desire to re-sign the Argentine this summer.

Verratti following Messi, then, would imply the Italian may also want to join Barcelona. From a sporting perspective, it is not a bad move for either of the two parties.

Barça are actively looking for reinforcements in the midfield department following the impending exit of Sergio Busquets. They have been linked with a move to Ilkay Gundogan but may face stiff competition from Arsenal while Manchester City are also keen on keeping hold of their star player.

Barcelona, though, are likely not in a position to finance a move for Verratti as the midfielder still has a contract at PSG until 2026. He would, therefore, attract a hefty transfer premium.

However, one way Verratti could follow Messi is if they both end up together in Saudi Arabia. Both players have been linked with moves to Saudi, with Verratti, in particular, looking more than likely to move to the Middle East, in what could be a lucrative deal for the midfielder.

Messi, on the other hand, still has an emotional connection with Barcelona and might not want to venture out of Europe just yet.