Blaise Matuidi reveals Andres Iniesta backed Marco Verratti to become his successor at Barcelona with mid-game comment during PSG thrashing
Verratti was sensational during PSG's 4-0 Champions League rout of Barcelona and ran rings round Iniesta and Co
ANDRES INIESTA gave Marco Verratti a mid-game backing to replace him at Barcelona during their Paris Saint-Germain thrashing.
That is according to Blaise Matuidi, who tried to wind up the Blaugrana great as Verratti ran rings around them.
The Italy international, 24, was influential for PSG as they ran out 4-0 winners, playing 70 minutes before coming off injured.
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Midfield team-mate Matuidi revealed that at one point during the game he turned to Iniesta and told him exactly what he though of Verratti's display.
He claims to have said: "A sentence I remember in the game? One can remember a phrase I said to Iniesta.
"When Verratti was on the ground, I told him that he was his replacement.
"He (Iniesta) said, "Yes, that's what I think."
"Iniesta is an extraordinary player, he arrives at a certain age, but he does very great things.
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"He was just wounded and I know that on his return he will be in full possession of his means.
"And we're lucky to have his successor with Marco. That's what I said to him as a message."
Iniesta, 32, clocked up his 400th Liga appearance in Barcelona's unconvincing 2-1 win over Leganes last night.