Al-Arabi Qatar Club announced today, Wednesday, its contract with Italian international Marco Verratti.
Al-Arabi posted a video clip on social media showing the midfielder in the club’s colours.
Qatari-owned Paris Saint-Germain issued a statement thanking Verratti for the 11 years he spent at the club.
Club president Nasser Al-Khelaifi said that Verratti “played a major role in our great history.”
The newspaper quoted Verratti as saying: “Paris, the club and its supporters will always have a very special place in my heart. I will always be a Parisian.”
Verratti (30 years old) suffers from injuries. He also has a spotty disciplinary record, having received 141 yellow cards and six red cards for Paris Saint-Germain.
Suspensions and injuries limited him to 29 Ligue 1 appearances last season, but that total was the largest since he played 32 games in 2014-15.
New coach Luis Enrique did not choose Verratti this season.
Paris Saint-Germain did not receive any concrete offers from any of the major clubs in Europe for Verratti, which may have been postponed due to his salary.
French media reported that the deal would bring Paris Saint-Germain close to 50 million euros ($53.7 million).
Verratti won nine French League titles and the French Cup six times with Paris Saint-Germain and the European Championship in 2021 with Italy.
After a summer in which the Saudi League continued to attract high-profile players, including Verratti’s former Paris Saint-Germain teammate Neymar who joined Al Hilal in Riyadh, the Italian became the second star to move to the club. The State of Qatar In less than a week.
Brazilian striker Philippe Coutinho He joined Al-Duhail on a season-long loan Aston Villa Friday.
bap/lead/gg