Why Former PSG Star Marco Verratti Chose to Join Michael Olunga's Former Club Al Duhail

Former Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) midfielder Marco Verratti has opened up about his headline move to Qatar, where he joined Michael Olunga’s former club, Al Duhail, in the summer of 2023. 

The Italian international left PSG after 11 successful seasons, taking up a new challenge in the Middle East.

Verratti, who spent two years at Al-Arabi before switching to Al Duhail, made the move just months after Olunga left Al Duhail for Al-Arabi in a rare swap of sorts. 

While many Kenyan fans had hoped to see the two stars line up together at club level, that dream never materialized.

Speaking to Gazzetta dello Sport in a recent interview, Verratti said his decision to move to Qatar was influenced by his desire for fresh motivation and a change of environment.

“Let’s just say I needed a new challenge, new motivation. I already knew Doha and have always liked it: when the opportunity arose, well, that was the life choice. And I’m happy about it,” said the 31-year-old Euro 2020 winner.

Verratti described the Qatari league as more competitive than many would expect. Al Duhail, last season’s runners-up in the Doha Bank Stars League, are aiming to return to the top of the table. The Italian believes that the atmosphere at his new club is rejuvenating.

“Here, if a player is on the bench, he’s not grumpy and angry: here, everyone smiles anyway, the desire to be together and play goes beyond anything," he noted.

“In Paris, winning had become a given: here, I saw something ‘childish’ again — the joy of winning, like when you were a child. Happiness.”

Verratti, who played 416 matches for PSG and won nine Ligue 1 titles and six Coupe de France trophies, left behind a trophy-laden legacy in the French capital. Despite this, the UEFA Champions League trophy eluded him and the club — a void that PSG still hasn’t filled.

In the interview, he also addressed suggestions that PSG only won the league because of big-name signings. The reporter hinted at their recent UCL success without global superstars, but Verratti disagreed with the idea that PSG lacked “big” players during his time.

Looking ahead, Verratti expressed a deep longing to return to his boyhood club, Pescara, where his professional journey began. Now co-owner of the Italian Serie B side alongside Daniele Sebastiani, Verratti dreams of stepping onto the pitch once more — even for just a minute.

“It’s a dream, yes. We always have to set ourselves a goal: maybe I’ll achieve it now that I’m 50% co-president,” he said.

“Only for my Pescara would I have done what I truly wanted to do: they gave me everything, and I wanted to repay them with all my heart.”

A veteran of 55 caps for Italy and a key figure in their Euro 2020 triumph, Verratti’s career in Europe may be winding down, but his passion for the game and his connection to his roots remain as strong as ever. As he chases new titles in Qatar and nurtures ambitions with Pescara, Verratti continues to write his own story — one chapter at a time.