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Former Barcelona star Neymar has made a bold claim about ex-PSG teammate Marco Verratti, naming him as the second best midfielder he played with. The Brazilian and Italian stars were teammates at the Parc des Princes between 2017 and 2023, when they both left the club.
Neymar and Verratti chose to pitch their tents in the Middle East after leaving PSG in the summer of 2023. The Brazilian moved to Saudi giants Al-Hilal in a €90 million move, while Verratti joined Qatari outfit Al-Arabi SC for a €45 million transfer fee.
Both players met at a party and had time to take a picture together, which the Brazilian posted on his Instagram account. The 32-year-old forward captioned it with praise for the Italian, naming him the best midfielder after Andres Iniesta.
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"The best player after @andresiniesta8"
Neymar and Verratti have some free time on their hands as their respective leagues are on break due to the ongoing Gulf Cup, which is taking place in Kuwait. The former has been out of action since October, when he injured his hamstring shortly after returning from a lengthy injury layoff which saw him miss over a year. Verratti, on the other hand, has made eight league appearances for his club this season, scoring once and providing three assists.
Marco Verratti and Neymar could have been teammates long before they eventually did, as Barcelona tried severally to sign the 32-year-old Italian. The Spanish giants failed, as the midfielder remained with PSG for 15 years before his exit in 2023.
Barcelona eyeing move for youngster who idolizes Neymar - Reports
Barcelona are reportedly looking to make a move to sign AS Monaco teenage sensation Eliesse Ben Seghir, who has revealed his idol to be Neymar. La Blaugrana have an eye on the Moroccan youngster after his impressive season so far with the Ligue 1 side.
Hansi Flick's side have been in the market for a left winger since the summer, with Nico Williams their chief target. Morocco international Ben Seghir will most certainly be a cheaper option for the Spanish giants than Williams, and they may choose to go for him instead, as per Mundo Deportivo.
Ben Seghir made his UEFA Champions League debut against Barcelona this season, and the 19-year-old has scored seven times and provided four assists across all competitions this season. The youngster is contracted to Monaco until 2027 but will likely be open to a switch to the Spanish giants.
