Marco Verratti responds to accusations of poor lifestyle choices: “Football has always been a game for me, but I have a life.”

Former Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Marco Verratti (30) has responded to questions about his lifestyle choices, which we often a topic of discussion during his 11-year stay with Les Parisiens. 

Verratti moved to Qatari side Al Arabi in September. The Italian international had been a mainstay in PSG’s midfield for over a decade. Having arrived from Pescara in 2012, the ‘Little Owl’ went on to make 416 appearances for Les Parisiens, scoring 11 goals and registering 61 assists. However, whilst once again pivotal in PSG’s title-winning campaign last season, he was frozen out this summer. He was informed by Luis Campos and Luis Enrique that he was surplus to requirements. 

Whilst Verratti’s legend status at PSG is uncontested, the Italian’s lifestyle choices have often been called into question. It was reported in L’Équipe last month that the midfielder turned up to pre-season overweight, whilst new PSG manager Luis Enrique told Verratti that he was the “prototype of the player he hates,” according to Le Parisien. The Spanish manager was reportedly referring to Verratti’s lifestyle choices. 

Speaking to L’Équipe, Verratti has now addressed the criticism. “It’s the way I am. Football has always been a game for me, but I have a life. Things I enjoyed were going to the restaurant, and drinking a glass of wine when there was no training. There are players that hide it, but I have also fronted up, in my life, as well as on the pitch. I think people like me for that; they see that I’m normal. I knew the moments when I could go out with friends, or go to a club when I was younger. I spent 11 years here, it’s normal that people ran into me more than other [players]. I’m not going to stay at home every day,” he said. 

However, Verratti