Marco Verratti (Part 1)

Marco Verratti Cavaliere OMRI, born on November 5, 1992, is an Italian professional footballer renowned for his role as a central midfielder. He currently plies his trade for Al-Arabi in the Qatar Stars League and represents the Italy national team.
Verratti's journey began with Pescara in 2008, where he quickly gained recognition as one of Europe's most promising young midfield talents. His standout performances contributed to Pescara's triumph in the 2011–12 Serie B campaign, earning him the prestigious 2012 Bravo Award. Often likened to Andrea Pirlo for his exceptional passing accuracy, vision, and ball control, Verratti seamlessly transitioned from an attacking midfielder (trequartista) to a deep-lying playmaker (regista).


Verratti made a move to Paris Saint-Germain, where he enjoyed tremendous success, clinching an impressive nine Ligue 1 titles along with numerous domestic and individual accolades. Throughout his tenure at PSG, he solidified his reputation as one of the finest midfielders globally, earning the distinction of being the club's third-highest appearance-maker.
On the international stage, Verratti showcased his talents with the Italy under-21 football team at the 2013 UEFA European Under-21 Championship, securing a runners-up medal and earning a spot in the all-star squad. He made his senior debut for Italy in 2012 and represented his nation at prestigious tournaments such as the 2014 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 2020, ultimately winning the latter tournament with Italy.


Marco Verratti was born in Pescara and spent his formative years in Manoppello. From a young age, he was an avid supporter of Juventus and looked up to Alessandro Del Piero, the iconic Italian playmaker of the team.
Verratti's prodigious talent was evident early on, and he attracted attention from several top clubs. Despite receiving offers to join the youth academies of Atalanta and Internazionale, he opted to join his local club, Pescara, for a nominal fee of €5,000. His decision proved fruitful when he caught the eye of AC Milan after an outstanding performance for Pescara's under-16 team. Milan offered €300,000 to acquire the promising midfielder, but Verratti remained loyal to Pescara, showcasing his commitment to his hometown club.


Verratti's journey in youth football began with Manoppello, a historic team in Pescara that later merged with Manoppello Arabona in 2001. He remained with this club until 2006 when he transitioned to the youth setup of Pescara.
His talent quickly caught the eye of the Pescara first team, and at the age of 15 years and 9 months, Verratti made his debut during the 2008–09 season. Over the following seasons, he became a regular fixture in the Pescara lineup, showcasing his skills as a deep-lying playmaker.


Under the management of Zdeněk Zeman, Verratti flourished, playing a pivotal role in Pescara's triumphant 2011–12 Serie B campaign. The team's attractive style of play earned them plaudits as they secured promotion to Serie A.
Verratti's performances did not go unnoticed, and he received widespread acclaim as a rising star in Italian football. His achievements were recognized with the 2012 Bravo Award, which honored him as the best player under the age of 21 in Europe. Additionally, he was named the best player of the 2011–12 Serie B season at the AIC Gran Gala del Calcio.
His success on the pitch attracted interest from top clubs across Europe, including Napoli, Roma, and Juventus. Paris Saint-Germain, led by Carlo Ancelotti, also expressed interest in acquiring his services.


After signing with Paris Saint-Germain on 18 July 2012, Verratti embarked on a successful journey in French football. His competitive debut for PSG came on 2 September 2012, in an away Ligue 1 match against Lille. Just twelve days later, he made his first appearance at the Parc des Princes, assisting Javier Pastore's opening goal in a 2–0 victory over Toulouse.
Verratti's European debut followed on 18 September 2012, in a 4–1 UEFA Champions League group stage win against Dynamo Kyiv. His first season with PSG culminated in winning the 2012–13 Ligue 1 title.
The midfielder extended his contract with PSG on 20 August 2013, committing to the club until 2018. The following season proved to be even more fruitful for Verratti and PSG. The team retained their Ligue 1 title and secured victories in the Coupe de la Ligue and the 2013 Trophée des Champions.


Verratti's standout performances did not go unnoticed, earning him accolades such as the Ligue 1 Young Player of the Year award and inclusion in the Ligue 1 Team of the Year for the 2013–14 season.
Following PSG's victory over Rennes in the 2019 Trophée des Champions on 3 August, Verratti established himself as the player with the most titles in the club's history, boasting 22 trophies in total. These included six Ligue 1 titles, four Coupe de France titles, five Coupe de la Ligue titles, and seven Trophée des Champions titles.
In October of the same year, Verratti extended his tenure at PSG by signing a three-year contract extension, binding him to the club until June 2024.


On 12 January 2020, Verratti reached a significant milestone, making his 300th appearance for PSG in a Ligue 1 match against Monaco, which ended in a 3–3 draw.
He further solidified his place in PSG's history by becoming the club's all-time appearance holder in the UEFA Champions League on 18 February, making his 58th appearance in the competition during the first leg of their round of 16 draw against Borussia Dortmund.
In April 2020, PSG was awarded the Ligue 1 title for the 2019–20 season after the league was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This marked Verratti's seventh Ligue 1 title with the club, equalling the all-time individual record for most Ligue 1 title victories. PSG went on to achieve a domestic treble but fell short in the UEFA Champions League final, losing 1–0 to Bayern Munich on 23 August, with Verratti making a substitute appearance during the match.


On 30 September 2014, Verratti netted his maiden competitive goal for PSG, a header in a thrilling 3–2 home victory over Barcelona during the group stage of the Champions League. This goal marked a significant moment for Verratti and PSG, showcasing his ability to contribute offensively in high-stakes matches.
Less than four months later, on 18 January 2015, Verratti found the back of the net for the first time in Ligue 1. He scored in a 4–2 home triumph against Evian, further highlighting his versatility and impact across different competitions for the Parisian club.
In August 2016, Verratti committed his long-term future to PSG by signing a three-year contract extension, extending his stay at the club until 2021. This extension demonstrated PSG's faith in Verratti's abilities and his importance to the team's ambitions moving forward.

References

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5. a b "Oscar del calcio, Pirlo giocatore dell'anno" (in Italian). Il Corriere della Sera. 28 January 2013. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
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7. ^ "Paris 4-1 Dynamo Kyiv". UEFA. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
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