Why Marco Verratti Is the PSG Player with Most to Prove in Pre-Season

Paris Saint-Germain begin their pre-season July 12 vs. Wiener Sport-Club in Vienna, Austria. Currently in the third division of Austrian football, Laurent Blanc has an opportunity to introduce some youth players and give players returning from their summer holidays a light game atmosphere.

This glorified training session precedes the 2015 International Champions Cup, where the three-time defending French champions will play Benfica (July 19), Fiorentina (July 21), Chelsea (July 25) and Manchester United (July 29), before playing in the Trophee des Champions on August 1 vs. Olympique Lyonnais.

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PSG will undoubtedly be tested in the days leading to Ligue 1's first match, and the six-game slate provides any interested party a platform to impress (either their current club or suitors across Europe).

Marco Verratti could be one such footballer. Linked with Barcelona, Real Madrid, Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal, as noted by the Daily Star's Jack Watts, Paris Saint-Germain's 22-year-old midfielder is apparently "desperate" to leave the Ile-de-France.

Just below Paul Pogba (in terms of Europe's young central-midfield talent), Verratti—if available—is worth £35.2 million, via Transfermarkt, but that figure seems the basement. Should the host of linked European superpowers be interested in the Italian international, £40 million to £50 million seems the more likely tag.

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Assuming Verratti wishes to evacuate Paris, this pre-season is the perfect opportunity to impress.

Many of Paris Saint-Germain's South American stars (Thiago Silva, David Luiz, Marquinhos, Javier Pastore, Edinson Cavani and Ezequiel Lavezzi) will be rested—probably into the 2015/16 domestic campaign—giving others the burden of carrying PSG's winning mentality.

All eyes will be on Verratti in midfield and—playing two of the five linked clubs (Manchester United and Chelsea)—there would appear further incentive, especially considering Barca are banned from making transfers official until January 2016.

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One potential stumbling block of this suspected desire to leave is Verratti's contract.

Signing an extension last summer—as documented by Paris-Saint Germain's official website—until June 2019, the 22-year-old might have to forcibly push through a transfer, and have a club so infatuated with him shock the Parisians into a sale.

Young, world-class holding midfielders are not a readily available commodity on the world's transfer market: They are either created in-house or sold for tens of millions; the leeway between the two outcomes is infinitesimal.

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The fulcrum of Blanc's entire system, Verratti blossomed last season. In Ligue 1, the Italian was spectacular: Making 90 tackles (tied for 12th best) and producing eight assists (tied for fifth best), the central midfielder was arguably Paris Saint-Germain's best player in 2014/15.

Verratti's main sticking point is discipline.

In his eagerness to win balls, the burgeoning star compiled 12 yellow cards in the French league last season—a mark that led the division. Some see yellow card accumulation as an issue, but tenacity is a prerequisite for the position; over time one would expect a veteran footballer to avoid bookings through guile and on-pitch politics.

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This pre-season, were the 22-year-old to show an improved temperament—while keeping his voluminous work rates—three things would happen.

First, PSG would become staunch in their position to not sell. Second, Verratti's price tag would become exponential (it is possible, however, that he has a more-than-reasonable buyout clause in his contract). Last, clubs possibly hesitant on the Italian would suddenly become emboldened to capture his signature before others got the same idea.

The next month-and-a-half is another trial of sorts for Verratti. If he wishes to leave the Parc des Princes, he will have the stage to further prove his worth; and should this week's reports turn into silly-season rubbish, he must nonetheless continue momentum generated last season into next.

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*Stats via WhoScored.com; transfer fees via Soccerbase where not noted.