According to RMC Sport, Marco Verratti could potentially join his close friend Lionel Messi at Barcelona next season, as he is reportedly looking to leave PSG following in the footsteps of Messi, Neymar, and Kylian Mbappe. The report suggests that Verratti has expressed a desire to play alongside Messi “no matter what.”
Messi’s contract with PSG expires at the end of the season, and it is widely expected that he will leave the French club on a free transfer. While Barcelona is currently competing with Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal for Messi’s signature, Barcelona’s president, Joan Laporta, recently revealed that he had a positive conversation with Messi and believes that the Argentine will choose to return to Camp Nou.
However, a transfer for Messi will be challenging due to Barcelona’s financial crisis, which has been well-documented. Al-Hilal has reportedly offered Messi a world-record salary of around €400 million per year, but it is believed that Messi would prefer to return to Barcelona instead.
Will Verratti join Barcelona?
The chances of Marco Verratti joining Lionel Messi at Barcelona appear to be slim due to the club’s ongoing financial difficulties. While Verratti’s relationship with PSG and the club’s fans has soured after a decade in Paris, the costs involved in bringing him to Camp Nou are likely to be prohibitive.
Barcelona is actively searching for a new central midfielder, but it seems unlikely that they will be able to afford Verratti. Moreover, FootballTransfers reported on Tuesday that Barcelona is also considering a double deal to bring back both Messi and Neymar, which could further complicate their transfer plans and financial situation.