Marco Verratti: From Serie B to Paris Saint-Germain Superstar

After losing the 2011/12 Ligue 1 title to Montpellier HSC, Paris Saint-Germain spent the summer adding some big-name players to their squad—one of which was Marco Verratti, a relative unknown outside of Italy.

Paraded holding the No. 24 jersey, the Italian moved from Serie B side Pescara, after helping them win promotion to Serie A, but he had never played a minute of top-flight football in Italy.

On Sunday night, Verratti, now wearing the No. 6, took to the pitch for the match against newly promoted Gazelec Ajaccio for what would be his 90th Ligue 1 fixture. There was a certain symmetry to the game, the Corsican club stepping up to the big time, untested, unfancied and mostly unheard of. Then Verratti, still only 22 years old, playing at the base of the PSG midfield, controlling the game and looking every part an experienced world-class talent.

As the Parisian side continue to grow into one of Europe’s elite, the stature of Verratti in the midfield becomes more apparent with every game.

Carlo Ancelotti was in charge when he joined, and it was clear to see the faith he had in the young Italian. Verratti started 10 of the opening 15 league games—he may have picked up six yellow cards, but it was offset by his two assists and the realisation that the Parc des Princes crowd were witnessing something very promising.

News from Le Parisien today revealed that the player was in talks with the club to sign a new contract. It is a testament to just how much influence he has over the team that the new deal will include a wage increase, but will still run till 2019.

"

Also in Le Parisien, PSG in talks with Marco Verratti over new contract since start of July. Wage rise expected, length (2019) to stay same.

— Jonathan Johnson (@Jon_LeGossip) August 17, 2015"

This is a reward for his role in Blanc’s starting line-up and will take him on par with the other top members of the squad. When he first played in the midfield, he was the junior to the more experienced Thiago Motta, with both sitting in front of the defence, protecting while dictating the play.

What was evident on Sunday night was that as crucial as Motta can still be to the midfield when he is at 100 percent—Verratti is no longer having his hand held by the Brazilian-born Italian international. At times on Sunday it looked with PSG were playing 4-1-4-1 so confidently that Verratti had the situation under control, he was the only player dropping deep to start the play and it is only the beginning of both his and PSG’s evolution.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Maxwell, Motta and Thiago Silva are all now the wrong side of 30, two of them are very unlikely to be at the club next season—when their contracts end—Motta’s future is in doubt, per reports in L'Equipe and Le Parisien (h/t Bleacher Report's Jonathan Johnson), this is very close to becoming Verratti’s team.

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Both L'Equipe & Le Parisien look at Thiago Motta's situation this morning & how his form & post-Gazelec comments put club under pressure.

— Jonathan Johnson (@Jon_LeGossip) August 18, 2015"

During the summer, whenever a possible move for Juventus star Paul Pogba was speculated, outsiders were keen to link a possible swap move for the Italian maestro, but it always met fierce opposition from the PSG fans.

He may not have come from the academy, or be a Parisian, but Verratti is one of theirs, and he is the one player in the current squad that could go on to be classed as one of the world’s best. It is unlikely that he will go on to win Ballon d’Or titles or even be nominated—it’s just not normal for his position—but over the next two years, he is very likely to be considered one of the best in his position.

The old cliche says “You don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone” and it’s the perfect way to describe just how much the Italian means to his midfield. After PSG beat Chelsea on away goals, they faced Barcelona in the quarter-finals of the Champions League—Verratti would miss the first leg in Paris and the Spanish side ran riot.

Emilio Morenatti/Associated Press

In the Camp Nou, PSG didn’t play well, they failed to show the fight and desire needed to spark even the most unlikely of comebacks. They were beaten as soon as the first whistle sounded, but one player that did do himself justice was Verratti. There was bite, there was snarl and he showed his quality on the ball.

If PSG are to make it past the quarter-finals in the next two years, they will need Verratti at the helm, and, speaking to Goal.com, it is clear he is happy in the French capital.

"You never know what the future brings," he remarked. "I am fine where I am now and I am not thinking about a transfer.

"I will consider my options the day I no longer feel good at PSG or when the club wants to sell me but England, Spain and Italy are all options. What matters most is the project."

Contracted till 2019, given at least one more season and other clubs will be interested. Real Madrid and Barcelona are always mentioned, but Verratti continues to bat away the speculation.

"Barcelona are one of the strongest clubs in the world and have been so for a long time," he enthused. "They are a great team but I am happy at PSG at the moment. But it is always flattering for a player when such a big club is interested in you.

"It is up to the people at Barcelona to decide [if I would fit in] but it is true that I like their style."

Emilio Morenatti/Associated Press

When watching the diminutive Italian, it’s quite easy to forget just how young he still is, especially when you track how much he has already improved in Ligue 1. The disciplinary problems are improving, he has yet to be booked this season. You don’t want that side of him to disappear, he is tenacious and combative and you need that—it just needs to be less petulant at times.

Verratti has also improved when it comes to getting caught on the ball. Too often he would turn into trouble, hold on to the ball a little longer than needed, and in the past it was punished. He hasn’t completely eradicated it from his game, but it’s not as infuriating as it once was.

As reported by L’Equipe (in French) on Monday, Verratti attempted 142 passes against Gazelec Ajaccio on Sunday evening, with 92 percent hitting their target.

"

142 - @MarcoVerratti1 has attempted 142 passes against Ajaccio, highest tally in a Ligue 1 game over the last 10 seasons. Metronome.

— OptaJean (@OptaJean) August 17, 2015"

PSG are just feeling their way into the new season, but Verratti is already up to speed. Only 25 of those passes were carried out in the last 30 metres, one criticism that is often brought against him. However, the deep-lying-playmaker role did no harm to fellow Italian Andrea Pirlo throughout his career.

This is not to compare the two players, there are distinct differences in their style. Verratti has all the tools to be an influence anywhere in the midfield. Without limitless potential and a desire to push both himself and his team forward, Verratti will reach the top of the game, PSG just better hope he takes them with him.