Marco Verratti has impressed in a more advanced role for PSG against Real Madrid in the Champions League, sparking debate on social media about the Italy international’s standing.
With Neymar only fit for the bench, Verratti seemed to be playing in a slightly more advanced role than usual in the Paris Saint-Germain midfield.
He was asked to both neutralise Luka Modric and set the tempo for the forward passing moves to Kylian Mbappé and Lionel Messi.
The 29-year-old Italy international certainly made an impact in the first half at Parc des Princes, especially on those who normally don’t watch him play regularly.
Italy’s midfield key during UEFA EURO 2020 gained several new fans this evening and much of the Twitter talk was about his performance.
Of course, this is still Verratti, so he was also booked by Italian referee Daniele Orsato after 39 minutes for his 11th yellow card of the season.
Verratti. Baller.
— Kristof Terreur (@HLNinEngeland) February 15, 2022
Real Madrid definitely rode a mini storm and ended the half relatively strongly.
Verratti is just lovely to watch, my favourite midfielder in world football 😍
Still think Madrid might nick this. #PSGRMA #UCL
— Dan Bardell (@danbardell) February 15, 2022
Verratti in the first 45′ against Madrid:
• Most tackles completed (2)
• Most duels won (6)
• 93% passing accuracy
• 100% successful dribblings
• 4 recoveries pic.twitter.com/Ktqmsuf8pW— Galu (@PSGalu) February 15, 2022
If you still think Verratti isn’t the best Midfielder in the world you need to be checked by a doctor pic.twitter.com/R3p7PEwXLO
— “ (@PSG_Giorgos) February 15, 2022
Don’t think I have ever seen Verratti play a bad game of football.
— 𝐀𝐅𝐂 𝐀𝐉𝐀𝐗 💎 (@TheEuropeanLad) February 15, 2022
🦉Marco Verratti est incontestablement le meilleur milieu de terrain du monde. #PSGRMA #UCL pic.twitter.com/Kq1FbKWc3T
— Media Parisien (@MediaParisien) February 15, 2022
Verratti eating Casemiro,Kroos and Modric on his own like it’s a three-course meal
— ✍️ 🇦🇱 (@10blended) February 15, 2022
Who else just loves to follow Verratti wherever he goes on the pitch?
He just glides with so much elegance on the pitch. Such a joy to watch.
— EiF (@EiFSoccer) February 15, 2022
This Marco Verratti masterclass so far..
— Complaxes (@Complaxes) February 15, 2022
Such a shame that Verratti never played in the Premier League. He could have been one of the greatest midfielders to ever play in England if he’d have come here
— Mark White (@markwhlte) February 15, 2022
So far so good Verratti is proving why he’s the best midfielder after Xavi
— Unruly King (@unrulyking00) February 15, 2022
Verratti is small, slow and weak – and of the best central midfielder in the world! So fun to watch … 🌍 #PSGRMA pic.twitter.com/s59H31l5Qi
— FUT Camp (@fut_camp) February 15, 2022
You mean there are football fans who don’t know about Verratti? Well that goes to show that the French league is really the farmers league. They might as well don’t know about Mbappé then.
He was booked for nothing by the way. He pulled out of the tackle and Casemiro dived. Horrible error by Orsato.