However, Messi is said to have vetoed a deal for Verratti in the wake of PSG’s Champions League defeat to Real.
According to Don Balon, Messi was seriously unimpressed by the midfielder’s no-show on Tuesday night.
And he’s apparently of the belief that his poor attitude towards the last-16 tie rubbed off on his PSG team-mates.
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Lionel Messi does not want Barcelona to sign Marco Verratti from Paris Saint-Germain
Marco Verratti scores contentious goal for PSG
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Marco Verratti failed to shine when Paris Saint-Germain played Real Madrid in the Champions League
Don Balon add that Messi sees Philippe Coutinho as being far more capable of covering Verratti’s favoured role.
And for those reasons he’s supposedly made up his mind that Verratti has no place at Barcelona.
Messi’s decision is said to have come after he had previously wanted Barcelona to sign the Italy international.
And it could play into Real’s hands, with Florentino Perez planning to rebuild Zinedine Zidane’s squad this summer.