Paris Saint-Germain midfielder and Italy international Marco Verratti has reportedly reached a verbal agreement to join Qatari side Al-Arabi on a permanent transfer.
Whilst the majority of transfer activity across Europe has now been completed for the summer, the window in Qatar is still open until September 18, meaning teams still have over a week to bring new players in.
Verratti has been on PSG’s books since the summer of 2012, joining from Serie B Pescara, but has since been frozen out of the squad at the Parc des Princes under new coach Luis Enrique.
Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano reports that the 30-year-old has now agreed terms with Al-Arabi and will travel to Doha in the next 24 hours to complete the formalities of his transfer.
PSG, who have been keen to move Verratti on this summer, reportedly agreed a fee with the Qatari outfit around 10 days ago, for a sum totaling €45m.
Verratti was part of the Italy squad for the Nations League finals in June, but due to his lack of playing time over the course of the summer, he was not included in Luciano Spalletti’s first squad in charge of the national team for the EURO qualifiers against North Macedonia and Ukraine.
The premature end of a brilliantly talented player’s career. We will never see him dominate the midfield as he did the second half of the Euros final.
Going to that league at his age is simply money oriented.