PSG: Leonardo backs Verratti against Riolo, "It's tough to last 11 years" | OneFootball

A classic topic over the last decade concerning Paris Saint-Germain is seeing journalist Daniel Riolo criticize Marco Verratti. Present on the airwaves of RMC Sport on Tuesday evening, Leonardo, the sporting director who recruited the midfielder to PSG from Pescara in 2012, responded.

Leonardo: "I have a lot of respect for the people who came at the beginning of the project."

Riolo: Verratti, a little genius who never fulfilled his potential because of his mentality. He wasn't mentally strong enough. We talked about him becoming Pirlo, Iniesta, and he became no one.

Leonardo: How did he become no one? That's not possible!

Riolo: When he arrived, he was extraordinary, the 2-2 at Camp Nou was a masterpiece. I believed in him until 2017 and then I stopped, mentally he didn't bring what I expected. Vitinha, in 2 years, has already made him forgotten. He scores goals, he makes assists...

I have a lot of respect for the people who came at the beginning of the project. At the beginning of the project, it's not easy. At PSG, it wasn't easy. Everything was contested, everything was difficult, it's normal. There were foreign investments, we didn't know them. But people did an enormous, enormous job. That PSG wins the Champions League now, it's normal. We remember Pirlo because he won 2 Champions Leagues with Milan.

Verratti spent 11 years at a club. There are cycles. Maybe after 5 years, he should have moved to an even bigger club for his career. He stayed the whole time. It's difficult to spend 11 years, with difficulties, things happening. He's an important player, he always endured more. Of course, he could have been better. If he had won the Champions League.

Leonardo: "Things in life happen, not the outings. He came back, he was better."

Yes, with the injuries, without the cards...

I agree.

Is it a waste?

No, it's not a waste!

Was he serious enough? Was he not ambitious enough in his lifestyle?

There were personal things that put him in a difficult situation. Things in life that happen, not the outings. He came back, he was better. Marco is one of the players I talked to the most. There's the mind. It's not about going out. Being fully focused on something for 15 years is not easy. There are a few rare exceptions.

Did he not have the mental strength to be a champion?

No, that's not what I said. What I said is that maintaining concentration for 15 years is difficult. And sometimes, it can be a determining moment. But Verratti was an enormous player.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇫🇷 here.