Former PSG star Verratti left bloodied and beaten in Qatari debut

Former Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Marco Verratti had a debut to forget as he turned out for his new side Al-Arabi SC for the first time against Al Rayan in the Qatari Stars League. 

Verratti ended an 11-year stay at PSG this summer, calling time on a glittering spell in Paris littered with silverware to join Al-Arabi for €45 million in one of the most shocking moves of the transfer window. 

The Italy international’s decision to move to Qatar, despite being only 30-years-old and having several suitors, raised eyebrows, and he might already be regretting the move after just one match. 

Verratti was given a markedly hostile welcome by his first opponents in his new environs, as he was reminded in no uncertain terms that he was far from a holiday league despite the Qatari Stars League’s low standing in world football. 

The former Pescara and PSG playmaker tasted defeat on his debut with Al-Arabi, as table-topping Al Rayan scored a goal in the seventh minute of extra time, but the truly worrying moment for Verratti came much earlier than that. 

In the late stages of the first-half, the Italian midfielder received a gash just below his eye following a dangerously high boot by Abdelaziz Hatem who was not further punished for the foul. 

Verratti got some justice as Hatem was later sent off in the second half for another dangerous challenge, but the red card was not enough to stop Al Rayan from claiming their fourth win in four league games. Al-Arabi, on the other hand, have made a shockingly poor start to the season and are yet to win in the league this campaign, with their only victory in seven attempts in all competitions coming in the Stars Cup against Al Mu'aidar.