Marco Verratti Leaves Lee Kang-in Behind: Set to Join Al Arabi in Qatar League
By Kim Min-cheol
French media outlet ‘RMC Sports’ has reported that Marco Verratti’s trip to Saudi Arabia was canceled, and he is now set to transfer to Al Arabi in the Qatar League. Verratti, who is renowned for his exceptional talent, has been a key player for Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) since joining the club in 2012. With 11 goals and 61 assists in 416 games, Verratti has received unwavering support from both the club and his teammates.
Previously, the anticipation for the upcoming season was high as Verratti was expected to play a crucial role in new manager Luis Enrique’s tactical plans, which include a 4-3-3 formation. Additionally, there was considerable attention on his partnership with Lee Kang-in, as it was believed that Verratti’s experience at PSG and with the Italian national team would greatly contribute to the young player’s development.
However, the reality turned out to be quite different from what was initially expected. PSG surprisingly listed Verratti as a potential release candidate before the season commenced. He was even excluded from the Media Day event and considered an out-of-status player. On top of that, he hasn’t had a single minute of playing time in the league, as PSG has kept him on the bench for the first three rounds.
Initially, a move to Saudi Arabia seemed likely. Al-Hilal, who previously signed Sergei Milinkovic Savic and Neymar, expressed interest in securing Verratti’s services. However, the transfer fell through. According to reports, Al-Hilal had reached a preliminary agreement with PSG but ultimately failed to meet Nasser Al-Khelaifi’s demands.
Fortunately, Al Arabi swooped in and took advantage of the situation. The media has confirmed that “Al-Arabi has agreed to acquire Verratti for a transfer fee of 45 million euros (approximately 65 billion won).”
Verratti’s close ties with PSG played a significant role in the negotiations. PSG initially demanded a transfer fee of 60 million euros (around 86.5 billion won) for the talented midfielder. However, due to the cooperative relationship between Qatar and PSG, the negotiations progressed smoothly.
It remains to be seen how Verratti will fare at his new club, but one thing is certain: his move to Al Arabi will leave a void for both PSG and Lee Kang-in, as they miss out on the opportunity to benefit from his expertise.
[스포탈코리아] Reporter Kim Min-cheol = Marco Verratti leaves Lee Kang-in behind.
French media ‘RMC Sports’ reported on the 31st (Korea time), “Verati, whose trip to Saudi Arabia was cancelled, is set to move to Al Arabi of the Qatar League.”
Verratti is evaluated as one of the players representing Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). Since joining PSG in 2012, he has received the full support of the club and team, posting 11 goals and 61 assists in 416 games.
To begin with, the outlook for next season was bright. Verratti was likely to play a key role in the tactics of new manager Luis Enrique, who prefers a 4-3-3 formation.
Attention was also focused on breathing with Lee Kang-in. It was expected that playing with Verratti, who had extensive experience at PSG and the Italian national team, would greatly help Lee Kang-in’s growth.
The reality turned out to be completely different from what was expected. Suddenly, PSG put Verratti on the list of candidates to be released before the opening. He was also banned from the Media Day event and classified as an out-of-status player.
Even at the stadium, Verati could not be found. Now that the league has been kept until the third round this season, Verratti has not had a single minute of playing time.
Saudi Arabia was mentioned as a likely destination. Al-Hilal, who previously signed Sergei Milinkovic Savic and Neymar, were also keen to sign Verati.
The transfer did not go through. According to this report, Al-Hilal reached an agreement in principle with PSG, but ultimately failed to meet Nasser Al-Khelaifi’s demands.
Al Arabi dug through this loophole. The media said, “Al-Arabi has agreed to the transfer of Verati with a transfer fee of 45 million euros (about 65 billion won).”
His close relationship with PSG had a big impact. PSG demanded 60 million euros (about 86.5 billion won) for Verratti’s transfer fee. However, thanks to the cooperative relationship between Qatar and PSG, the negotiations were found to be going smoothly.
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