Verratti transfer will delay planning

There are some decisions that are taken with full knowledge of the consequences and Barça have bet everything on signing Marco Verratti. This objective is practically the club’s only objective this summer and will delay, for better or worse, the planning for Ernesto Valverde’s first season in charge. If the club sign him in good time, the squad will certainly be improved. However, if the deal falls through, the club will have to react and runs the risk of arriving late, and badly, to a highly globalised market.

What is not in doubt is that Barça are in PSG’s hands. Whatever Verratti says, the transfer will only be possible if the French club agree to open negotiations. And these negotiations will be very complex. The commitment to Verratti is firm and correct but expensive. And that could leave deals for other reinforcements on hold. Signing a player who would be a definite starter has other consequences that aren’t always desirable. Verratti is worth his weight in gold but will cost more than just millions of euros.