Amid their UEFA Champions League quarterfinal matchup against Atalanta BC, the Italian media is beginning to talk with Marco Verratti to get his thoughts from a Paris Saint-Germain angle. However, the conversation also dives into Italian Antonio Conte and the improvements of Serie A.
The 27-year-old gave an interview with Tuttosport (via Football Italia), and one of the first topics was over his teammate and former Inter Milan striker, Mauro Icardi. Despite not scoring goals, Verratti says he remains valuable in other areas of the game.
“He’s a player for the area, and perhaps it’s noted when he doesn’t score goals. But he’s valuable to open space for Neymar and [Kylian] Mbappe too,” Verratti said. “Thanks to his past in Italy, he has acquired a great tactical understanding and is useful even defensively. There’s no need to worry. He has goals in his veins, sooner or later it will come.”
After talking about Icardi, the conversation switched to Italian football and Inter, who saw a rise as a club with Antonio Conte at the helm. Verratti admits to being a fan of the 51-year-old manager.
“It’s difficult to compare [seasons]. The pandemic has affected everything, but it was certainly more exciting to follow from the outside,” Verratti said. “I had no doubts about the rise of Inter. Where Conte passes, there’s always progress. Until the break, Lazio were fighting for the title. Atalanta have grown even after the break.”
Finally, the interview ends with Verratti discussing Serie A. With players like Cristiano Ronaldo moving to Italy. The 27-year-old believes that there are brighter days for the league heading forward.
“To me, it only seems like rumors, but it’s proof that Serie A has returned to the top and attracts great champions again,” Verratti said. “It’s no coincidence that [Cristiano] Ronaldo, [Romelu] Lukaku, [Franck] Ribery have chosen to come. And if a young player like [Matthijs] de Ligt has chosen our championship, it means there are good prospects.”
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