Verratti Joins Al Arabi In Qatar As Psg Bid Farewell

Italian international midfielder Marco Verratti has embarked on a new chapter in his football career, signing with Qatari club Al Arabi. The announcement was made jointly by Al Arabi and his former team, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), on Wednesday. In a social media post, Al Arabi unveiled a video showcasing Verratti proudly donning the club's colors, marking the start of his journey in the Qatari league. PSG, which is owned by Qatar Sports Investments, expressed gratitude to Verratti for his remarkable 11-year stint with the club. PSG President Nasser al-Khelaifi acknowledged Verratti's significant contributions, stating, "Verratti played a major role in our great history." The midfielder himself expressed his deep connection to PSG, saying, "Paris, the club, and its supporters will always have a very special place in my heart. I will always be a Parisian." Verratti, aged 30, has grappled with injuries throughout his career and has amassed a notable disciplinary record, accumulating 141 yellow cards and six red cards during his time with PSG. In the previous season, bans and injuries limited him to just 29 appearances in Ligue 1. However, this was an improvement compared to previous seasons, with his highest game tally of 32 matches dating back to 2014-15. The decision by PSG to part ways with Verratti did not yield any concrete offers from Europe's top clubs, possibly influenced by his high salary. French media reports suggest that the transfer fee for Verratti's move to Al Arabi is estimated to be close to 50 million euros (approximately 53.7 million dollars). During his tenure at PSG, Verratti achieved remarkable success, securing nine French league titles, six French Cup victories, and clinching the European Championship with Italy in 2021. Verratti's move to Qatar comes amidst a trend of prominent footballers heading to the Middle East, with Neymar, his former PSG teammate, recently joining Al Hilal in Riyadh. Furthermore, Brazilian forward Philippe Coutinho also made a significant move, joining Al Duhail on a season-long loan from Aston Villa last week. These high-profile transfers continue to underscore the growing influence and allure of Middle Eastern football leagues.