Marco Verratti's move to Barcelona was like a pre-determined deal. Before PSG faced the Catalan team in the UEFA Champions League round of 16 at home, this midfielder had great respect for his opponent.
Although I have a good plan at PSG and feel like I am at home, any player wants to play for Barcelona. They have 3 best players in the attack: Andres Iniesta, Messi and Neymar. Together they create movement at the same time.
That is the reality when Barca is already known for the "Murderers" trio: Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar. At the end of the 2016-17 season, the team's midfield did not seem as strong as before but was still formidable.
Speaking about Barcelona's midfield, Xavi Hernandez cannot be mentioned before. He left the Nou Camp in 2015 to play football in Qatar. Verratti once said: Xavi is the best midfielder in history. Losing like that makes Barca change many things.
However, when coach Luis Enrique led Barca, he changed the style of this team. They attacked more directly, rotated the ball faster and dangerously in counter-attacks.
Xavi has said that he will continue to follow his former team after leaving. In December 2015, he talked about Verratti: I love Verratti. I like his tactical vision in the game. He never lost the ball, suitable for Barcelona's playing style. I like to see Verratti play for Barcelona".
Although PSG has been tough on declaring that they will not sell Verratti at any price, the 24-year-old midfielder is still the Catalan team's top transfer target in the summer of 2017. After being eliminated by Barca in the UEFA Champions League last season and only finishing 2nd in Ligue 1, it seems that Verratti will want to find a new challenge.
Meanwhile, Barcelona need to refresh themselves after stopping in the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League and losing the La Liga championship to Real Madrid. Iniesta has turned 33 and needs an early replacement despite still being in good form. If Verratti comes to Barca, he could become a new Xavi at Nou Camp.
Former Real Sociedad coach - Raynald Denoueix shared with goal.com in February: " Barcelona's midfield team does not have a copy because they have players with irreplaceable qualities. Like Xavi, no one can replace him. Or rather, Xavi's replacement is another story. With Verratti, he has the same style.
If this deal happens, it will become one of the "blockbusters" of the 2017 summer transfer window. Verratti could replace Ivan Rakitic on the right wing in Barcelona's midfield. However, who knows if the Croatian midfielder will be placed in another position in the Barca squad by coach Ernesto Valverde.
With Luis Enrique's reign passing and Valverde as his replacement, Barcelona's approach to the match will also be different. The idea of former Athletic Bilbao coach is likely to bring the Barca midfield back to its heyday as coach Pep Guardiola had. If so, Verratti will be the one to bring about change.
