Marco Verratti, the Italian midfielder currently playing for Al-Duhail, has expressed his desire to return to Serie A, specifically with his hometown club Pescara. Despite never having played in Italy`s top flight, Verratti`s connection to Pescara remains strong, as he helped the club secure promotion to Serie A in 2012 before joining Paris Saint-Germain.
“My dream is to play even just a single minute in Serie A with Pescara,” Verratti revealed in a recent interview. “We always need to set goals for ourselves. Perhaps I`ll achieve this now that I`m co-president with a 50% stake. You see, only for Pescara would I do what I truly wanted to do: they gave me everything, and I want to repay them from the heart.”
Reflecting on his departure from PSG, Verratti explained, “I needed a new challenge and fresh motivations. In Paris, winning had become almost expected. Here, I`ve rediscovered a childlike joy in winning, similar to when I was young. It`s pure happiness. In Paris, victories had become monotonous and repetitive.”
During his 11-year tenure at PSG, Verratti won nine French league titles and six French Cups. However, the Champions League trophy eluded the club during his time there. When questioned about PSG`s recent Champions League success without big-name stars, Verratti disagreed with the premise.
“That`s not accurate. There are stars there, and they`ve built a great team that`s very focused on collective effort. Luis Enrique has done an excellent job,” he stated. “They`ll continue to win for years to come.”
Addressing rumors about his departure, Verratti clarified, “It`s been reported that I left PSG because Luis Enrique wanted it. That`s not true. I can assure you that my conversation with Nasser Al Khelaifi about leaving happened much earlier. I told him I wanted new challenges. We still maintain a great relationship; he`s an outstanding person.”
Verratti, a Euro 2020 winner with the Italian national team, made 55 appearances for his country, scoring three goals. His legacy at PSG is significant, having played 416 matches and scored 11 goals over 11 seasons, cementing his status as a club legend.