BARCELONA HANDED CHANCE TO SIGN MARCO VERRATTI

La Liga giants Barcelona have been afforded the chance to sign one of the club’s long-time midfield targets.

That’s according to Mundo Deportivo, who have dropped something of a bombshell in the early hours of Thursday.

The player to have offered his services up to Barcelona comes in the form of Marco Verratti.

Italian international Verratti, for his part, is currently plying his trade in the Middle East, with Qatar Stars League outfit Al-Arabi.

It would appear, though, that less than 12 months on from leaving the European game behind, the 31-year-old has already grown tired of his Qatari experience.

In turn, as per the aforementioned MD, Verratti has made himself available to the transfer team at La Liga heavyweights Barcelona.

The Blaugrana are of course known to be on the lookout for reinforcements in the middle of the park with a view to the 2024/25 campaign.

Verratti, meanwhile, is understood to boast long-term admirers behind the scenes in Catalunya’s capital, having been tipped to link up with Barca on a whole host of occasions in the past.

It remains to be seen, though, whether such interest remains on the part of Xavi and co.