Verratti hopes PSG sign De Rossi

Paris St Germain midfielder Marco Verratti is hoping the Ligue 1 big-spenders will bring Roma midfielder Daniele De Rossi to the club, but concedes it will be a difficult deal to pull off.

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De Rossi has been linked with a move to the French capital and Verratti, speaking ahead of Italy's World Cup qualifier against Armenia on Friday, is keen to link up with his international team-mate at club level.

"Daniele is having a great time in Rome, but it would be a pleasure to play with him," the former Pescara player said. "I hope so, but I know it will be difficult."

Veratti, who made his debut for Italy in August's friendly loss to England, admitted he was sceptical about leaving his homeland to move to Paris over the summer, but was convinced by the plans of coach Carlo Ancelotti and director of football Leonardo.

"I played three years as a starter in Pescara in the first team, it was not my choice to go abroad," he added.

"But when I saw the project that Ancelotti and Leonardo showed me I immediately said yes.

"In Italy they always talked about me and saw me as a prospect but in Paris I have a key role now."