Former PSG star reveals how he and Neymar helped convince Lionel Messi to join the club
Lionel Messi sent shockwaves through world soccer in 2021 when he abruptly left FC Barcelona and signed with Paris Saint-Germain — a stunning move for fans everywhere. As PSG were building its so-called “dream team” in pursuit of the elusive UEFA Champions League trophy, a former star of the club has now revealed how he and Neymar played a part in convincing the Argentine legend to come to Paris.
Since Nasser Al-Khelaifi and Qatar Sports Investments took over PSG in 2011, a long list of world-class players have helped elevate the French club into European elite status. Among them was Marco Verratti, who joined in 2012 as a 20-year-old prospect and spent more than a decade at the club before departing in 2023 as a proven star.
During his 11-year stint in Paris, Verratti was part of the high-profile team that featured Neymar, Messi, and Kylian Mbappe. In an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, the Italian midfielder shared how — even before Messi’s contract situation with Barcelona became public — he and several PSG teammates tried to persuade Messi to join the club.
“I remember a fantastic evening that became almost magical. We were in Ibiza, and Neymar came up to me and said that tonight we would be having dinner with Leo Messi as well. So there we were at the table: me, Leo (Messi), (Leandro) Paredes, Ney, and (Angel) Di Maria. We talked and had a good time. And we kind of, so to speak, kept going on at him to convince him to come to Paris.”
Verratti then revealed what happened next — and how quickly the move came together. “Late that night, we said goodbye, and the next day we read that there were problems between him and Barcelona. Then, in the early afternoon, Neymar calls me: ‘Marco, Leo is coming to us.’ Incredible — from having him at dinner to having him as a teammate. A magical evening,” he stated.
A PSG without stars?
Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Edinson Cavani, Thiago Silva, Sergio Ramos, Neymar, Messi, and Mbappe — over the last 15 years, PSG have fielded some of the biggest names in world soccer. Yet none of them managed to deliver the coveted Champions League title. That changed this year, with Ousmane Dembele emerging as the team’s top star, though head coach Luis Enrique’s leadership is widely credited for the success.
When asked whether PSG are now winning without stars, Verratti pushed back against that narrative: “That’s not true — the stars are there, they have them. They’ve built a great group, they think a lot about the collective, and Luis Enrique has done a fantastic job. They’ll keep winning for many years to come.”