Sports

Verratti leaves PSG for Al Arabi

AP

Italian international Marco Verratti has signed for Qatari club Al Arabi, his new club and his former team, Paris Saint-Germain, announced on Wednesday.

Al Arabi posted a video on social media showing the midfielder in club colours.

Qatari-owned PSG released a statement thanking Verratti for his 11 years at the club.

Verratti "played a major role in our great history", said club president Nasser al-Khelaifi.

"Paris, the club and its supporters will always have a very special place in my heart. I will always be a Parisian," it quoted Verratti as saying.

Verratti, 30, has struggled with injuries. He also has a spotty disciplinary record, collecting 141 yellow cards and six reds for PSG.

Bans and injuries limited him to 29 Ligue 1 appearances last season, but that total was the most since he played 32 games in 2014-15.

Verratti won nine French league titles and the French Cup six times with PSG and the European Championship in 2021 with Italy.