A classic trope surrounding Paris Saint-Germain in the last decade is journalist Daniel Riolo’s criticism of Marco Verratti. Appearing on RMC Sport Tuesday evening, Leonardo, the sporting director who brought the midfielder to PSG from Pescara in 2012, responded.
Leonardo: “I have a lot of respect for the people who were there at the beginning of the project.”
Riolo: “Verratti, a little genius who never lived up to expectations because of his mentality. He wasn’t mentally strong enough. We talked about him becoming the next Pirlo, the next Iniesta, and he became nobody.”
Leonardo: “How did he become nobody? That’s impossible!”
Riolo: “When he first arrived, he was extraordinary. The 2-2 draw at the Camp Nou was a masterpiece. I believed in him until 2017, and then I stopped. Mentally, he didn’t deliver what I expected.” Vitinha, in just two years, has already made everyone forget about him. He scores goals, he makes assists…
I have a lot of respect for the people who arrived at the beginning of the project. At the start of a project, it’s not easy. At PSG, it wasn’t easy. Everything was contested, everything was difficult, that’s normal. There were foreign investments, we don’t know the details. But people did an enormous, enormous amount of work. It’s normal that PSG is winning the Champions League now. We remember Pirlo, because he won two Champions Leagues with Milan.
Verratti spent 11 years at one club. There are cycles. Maybe after five years, he should have left for an even bigger club, for the sake of his career. He stayed the whole time. It’s difficult to spend 11 years there, with difficulties, with things happening. He’s an important player, he’s always had to deal with more. Of course, he could have been better. If he won the Champions League.
Leonardo: “Life happens, not going out. He came back, he was better.”
Yes, in terms of injuries, but not the cards…
I agree.
Is it a waste?
No, it’s not a waste!
Was he serious enough? Wasn’t he ambitious enough with his lifestyle?
There were personal things that put him in a difficult situation. Life happens, not going out. He came back, he was better. Marco is one of the players I’ve spoken to the most. It’s about his mental strength. It’s not about going out. Being fully focused on something for 15 years isn’t easy. There are a few rare exceptions.
Didn’t he have the mental strength to be a champion?
No, that’s not what I said. What I said was that maintaining concentration for 15 years is difficult. And sometimes, it can be a defining moment. But Verratti was a tremendous player.
