Marco Verratti assures he’s “100 per cent fit” and wants to win the Champions League before leaving Paris Saint-Germain.
The Italian international missed Euro 2016 with a persistent groin injury, but is back playing for club and country after surgery to correct the problem.
“For the first time in years, I feel really good,” Verratti told Le Figaro.
Marco Verratti assures he’s “100 per cent fit” and wants to win the Champions League before leaving Paris Saint-Germain.
The Italian international missed Euro 2016 with a persistent groin injury, but is back playing for club and country after surgery to correct the problem.
“For the first time in years, I feel really good,” Verratti told Le Figaro.
“I can play two matches in a week without being ‘dead’ like I was before. For a player the most important thing is to be 100 per cent fit, physically and mentally. Last season that never happened.
“It was a very difficult thing to go through, one day I was fine and the next day not. Now I feel very good with this team. I hope we can have an even better season than last year.”
Verratti was then asked if he’d consider leaving PSG if they don’t do better in the Champions League this season.
“In general, I think about leaving if I’m not happy in a team. For now I feel good at this club and in this city. I’m part of a project which began before I arrived.
“I feel important, like a family member. It’s not just down to me, but I’d be happy to stay here for a long time. I really want to win the Champions League with the club before leaving.
“That’s the challenge I’ve set, and I’m stubborn…
“We want to go further than last year, but we know it will be very difficult. There are teams who are more favoured than us, like Bayern [Munich] or Barcelona.
“For four years we’ve been knocked out in the Quarter-Finals, so we need to get over that hump. We’re working hard for it, including the very important game with Basel on Wednesday.”
Marius Trésor described the former Pescara man as “vicious” in an interview with L’Équipe, due to the way he argues with referees…
“Everyone has their opinion, and I respect his,” Verratti shrugged.
“I don’t want to argue. In every day life I’m not vicious, I don’t like people who are vicious. Once I get onto the pitch though I can have a vicious side, because I always want to win.
“It only lasts 90 minutes though.
“As far as referees go, I don’t put pressure on them. When my teammates miss something in a match, I tell them about it.
“So when a referee misses something, I try to tell him about it. That’s all.”