Luis Garcia: 'Marco Verratti perfect for Barcelona'

Former Barcelona attacker Luis Garcia has said that Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Marco Verratti would 'fit perfectly' if the Italian international made the move to Camp Nou in this summer's transfer window.

Barcelona have been strongly linked with a move for the 24-year-old since the end of the 2016-17 campaign, and it has been claimed that the midfielder is prepared to force a transfer to the Spanish giants.

Garcia, who came through the youth system at Barcelona before joining the club for a second spell in 2003, has branded Verratti "very good technically", and backed his former team's pursuit of the playmaker.

"He is another of those players who can fit well into Barcelona's philosophy," Garcia told Omnisport. "He is very good technically. He knows how to move. He can play in different roles. He fits where [Andres] Iniesta or [Ivan] Rakitic play but he can also play as a holding midfielder next to [Sergio] Busquets.

"It's something that Barcelona always look for. Players who can play in different positions. Not only one striker who can only play as a centre forward. They always look for players who can make in different systems and positions. Verratti fits perfectly into that bracket."

Verratti has scored six times in 201 appearances for PSG since a 2012 move from Pescara.