Marco Verratti has hit at Barcelona forward, Lionel Messi with claims that referees always overlook his wrongdoings on the field of play. The Italian made this revelation while speaking to the Gazzetta dello Sport about Paris Saint-Germain’s elimination at the hands of Real Madrid in the Champions League Round of 16, a game that saw the talented midfielder sent off for a second yellow. He picked the first yellow card for a reckless tackle, and the second for mouthing off at referee Felix Brych.
Verratti was already on a yellow card when he felt he was fouled by Mateo Kovacic in Real’s half. When no foul was given, the Italian stormed to protest to official Felix Brych and was given a second caution which saw him get sent off.
“I got it wrong against Real, but it was a red card out of frustration and sometimes referees could be more tolerant,” Verratti said.
“It was a bad reaction but I didn’t insult anybody, whereas Messi goes around pointing his finger in the referee’s face and doesn’t even get punished.
“But anyway, I need to improve.”
Messi usually holds a reputation as one of the calmer personas among the stars of world football. He has only been sent off once in his professional career, when he was shown red just 40 seconds into his Argentina debut in August 2005 for lashing out at an opponent who tugged his shirt.
Verratti also used the interview to explained why he didn’t join Barcelona last summer, despite being heavily linked to the Catalan side. He said speculation that his agent, Mino Raiola, has offered him to Barcelona is “a lie,” insisting he has goals to achieve at the Parc des Princes.
The Italian’s suggestions might perhaps be received better from someone without such a chequered disciplinary record, per The Independent:
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