Italy international Marco Verratti has agreed to remain at Paris Saint-Germain for a 12th season, claims L’Equipe, despite offers from Al-Ahli and Al-Hilal.
The midfielder had been ready to walk away for a new chapter of his career in the Saudi Pro League, agreeing personal terms with Al-Hilal.
There was also interest from Al-Ahli, but neither of them were willing to meet the PSG asking price of circa €70m.
Verratti only recently signed a new contract with the Ligue 1 giants that will run until June 2026.
It was reported he was not happy with the approach taken by new coach Luis Enrique, but this evening L’Equipe claim there have been crisis talks and the situation was smoothed out.
The 30-year-old is therefore content to remain for a 12th consecutive campaign in Paris, having joined from Pescara in 2012.
This could also be good news for Italy coach Roberto Mancini, who otherwise might’ve seen one of his key midfield players move to the Saudi Pro League.
Finally a price the Saudis deemed too high… the damage is already done by their ownership of PSG, Man City, Newcastle etc, but as a retirement league for 30+ players, why not? It’s a dent in the pil funds and a lot of football players have dine great things for their, especially, African home nations. Drogba turned Russian petro dollars into hospitals, for example. Let’s see more of that, and fewer Lamborghinis…