Football
Mark Rodden 8y

PSG's Marco Verratti will be crucial for Italy at Euro 2016 - Arrigo Sacchi

Former AC Milan and Italy manager Arrigo Sacchi says Marco Verratti's presence could be vital to the Azzurri's chances at Euro 2016.

Verratti, 23, has missed much of the season through injury but is travelling with Paris Saint-Germain in the hope that he can face Manchester City in the Champions League quarterfinal second leg on Tuesday.

The influential midfielder has sat out PSG's last nine matches. But Sacchi, who helped Milan to back-to-back European Cup victories in 1989 and 1990, can see why the French champions would be willing to risk him.

"He's a talent," Sacchi told L'Equipe. "I know him well because I was responsible for the Italian youth teams... he's a player of great quality. One of the most promising.

"Physically, he's not impressive but he's intelligent and, if he's humble, he will again enhance the talent that God has given him. Without humility, without perfectionism, it's difficult."

Sacchi is worried about Verratti's fitness, however, suggesting that the type of injury he is struggling to shake off is a bad one.

"It requires a lot of time," the man who led Italy to the 1994 World Cup final said. "Sometimes, it needs to be operated on. It's a pity.

"I know that [Italy manager] Antonio Conte is a big fan of Verratti. He would be invaluable for the national team."

It has been suggested recently that fellow PSG and Italy midfielder Thiago Motta, 33, is a declining force. But Sacchi believes that the former Barcelona and Inter player still has plenty to offer -- both to his team and to Verratti.

"He's an excellent manager of the game," Sacchi told L'Equipe. "He's very strong, intelligent. He makes the team play and move.

"I think Verratti can learn things from him. Sometimes, Verratti takes one or two touches of the ball too many. You have to know when to play the ball first time and when to carry the ball."

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