French football journalist Julien Laurens has questioned what Italian midfielder Marco Verratti could achieve if he had the work ethic of five-time Ballon d'Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo.
Laurens, who was speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live after PSG's win over Manchester United earlier this year, revealed some remarkable details about Verratti's lifestyle, which apparently includes smoking, drinking and partying.
In fact, he claims that the PSG midfielder was until 6am for Neymar's lavish party the week before the match in Paris, which makes his masterclass at Old Trafford on Tuesday night even more impressive.
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"For me Verratti, because he was not fit, because he was not 100 percent, because he's only played one game in the last month." he said.
"Last week he was partying until 6am for Neymar's birthday, because he smokes, because he drinks because he's out almost every day of the week.
"When he comes out with a game like this tonight at Old Trafford I think it's just sensational.
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"I think if he had the lifestyle of Cristiano Ronaldo, for example, the work ethic of him, I don't where he would be in terms of world-class midfielders.
"But the ability he has combined with the lifestyle that he has at the moment and yet still being able to put out a performance like tonight is just incredible."
Despite a lack of game time in recent weeks Verratti was superb in the round of 16 tie, dominating the midfield with Marquinhos and Julian Draxler.
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PSG went on to win the game 2-0 thanks to goals from Kylian Mbappe and Presnel Kimpembe.
The French side would go on to lose the tie thanks to an incredible comeback from United in the second leg, with Marcus Rashford's injury time penalty deciding the tie.
Verratti has been linked with moves to Barcelona and Juventus in the past but has remained in France since moving there in 2012.
Will he ever get the big move?
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