
Marco Verratti reveals reasons behind his departure from Paris Saint-Germain two years ago
In an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport last Tuesday, Verratti, who has recently joined Qatari side Al Duhail SC, said the decision to leave PSG was a deliberate one and not something he regrets.
He clarified that his departure was not triggered by the appointment of then-new manager Luis Enrique, who had succeeded Christophe Galtier.
'I can assure you that discussions with Nasser [Al-Khelaïfi] go back much further than that. I told him I was leaving because I wanted new challenges,' said the former Italy international, who earned 55 caps with the national team. He added that he remains on good terms with the PSG president: 'He's a wonderful person,' he said

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Campaign ME
12 hours ago
- Campaign ME
Saudi Tourism on building brand Saudi at the Esports World Cup
Saudi, Welcome to Arabia – the destination brand of the Saudi Tourism Authority – has partnered with the Esports World Cup (EWC) to put the Kingdom's culture, heritage and tourism offering in front of a global gaming audience. Running from 7 July to 24 August, EWC brings together players, clubs and communities from more than 100 countries in Riyadh. Campaign Middle East spoke to Abdullah Aldakhil, spokesperson for the Saudi Tourism Authority (STA), at the event to understand how esports is shaping the Kingdom's brand story and its ambitions to engage younger audiences. 'If you look at Saudi today, around 70 per cent of the population is below 30, so we are enthusiasts for sports, all kinds of sports,' says Aldakhil. 'We view Saudi Arabia as a sports hub – the global hub for sports.' From 2018's Formula E debut to hosting Formula 1, the Spanish and Italian Super Cups, and now the second consecutive EWC, Aldakhil says these events are designed to attract not only young fans but also families and international visitors. 'We expect this year's event to be even bigger than last year's, which hosted more than 3 million visitors,' he notes. 'With the concerts, boulevard activations, and everything happening on‑site, it's a great attraction.' On the EWC show floor, STA is running a dedicated Saudi Tourism booth. Staff guide visitors through interactive displays and visual showcases of destinations across the Kingdom, from the Red Sea and Asir to Al‑Baha, Jeddah and Taif. The booth is part of a wider activation strategy to encourage esports fans – many of them first‑time visitors – to explore beyond Riyadh. Previously, STA announced that its partnership with the EWC would feature curated cultural programming, combining high‑stakes competition with heritage experiences, anime cafés, retro arcades, cosplay, live music and more. The aim is to turn spectators into explorers. For Aldakhil, esports offers a distinctive entry point for destination marketing. 'Having such global events in Saudi is a big push for brands to create their association with us,' he says. 'You see content creators, event enthusiasts, and even casual visitors coming from all across the world – over 100 nationalities participating this year. It's a testament to the belief they have in what's happening here.' That belief is grounded in scale and visibility. Earlier in the day, event organisers announced that last year's EWC generated more than 7,000 hours of content in over 30 languages. For Aldakhil, that's a powerful showcase opportunity: 'We really care about broadcasting not just our gaming, but our identity and our culture to the rest of the world.' View this post on Instagram A post shared by Campaign Middle East (@campaignmiddleeast) Saudi's play is not just about pulling in esports fans – it's about positioning the country as a natural venue for global events. 'In the last couple of years, content creators have had Saudi as one of their main destinations,' says Aldakhil. 'Since opening for tourism in 2019, we've been seeing people flying from all over the world to be here.' The EWC is the latest proof point in that positioning. 'With their belief in us, more brands are coming, more collaborations are happening,' he says. 'And when they do come, they see it's not just about the tournament – it's about the experience, the hospitality, and discovering a hidden gem.'


Middle East Eye
a day ago
- Middle East Eye
German football team say they won't sign Israeli player after fan outrage
German football team Fortuna Dusseldorf announced on Tuesday that they decided against signing Israeli international Shon Weissman after fans protested his social media posts, which advocated for the wiping out of Gaza. The second division side said in a short statement on X that they had opted not to sign the 29-year-old and that he would be staying at the Spanish second division side Granada CF. The decision came a day after Fortuna fans launched an online petition asking the club's hierarchy not to sign the striker due to his past "controversial comments". "Weissman's comments, which have been widely perceived as discriminatory and disrespectful, are in stark contrast to the principles Fortuna Dusseldorf stands for and strives to promote," the petition said. "Signing him could damage the credibility of the club and its fan base, which embraces diversity and community. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters "There are many talented players who better reflect the spirit and ethics of our club." In October 2023, Weissman is reported to have shared and liked posts calling for Gaza to be "wiped off the map". He also reportedly posted: "What's the logical reason that 200-ton bombs haven't been dropped on Gaza yet?". In another post, when responding to a photo of two detained Palestinian men, he allegedly wrote: "Why the hell aren't they being shot in the head?" Israel's Olympic flag-carrier wrote message on bomb bound for Gaza Read More » According to the Italian newspaper Il Mattino, a local prosecutor in Granada had received a hate crimes complaint over the posts. Weissman's agent later said the now-deleted posts and likes were not made by the player himself but by a social media manager who had access to his accounts. Middle East Eye reached out to Fortuna Dusseldorf and Granada CF for comment but did not receive a response by time of publication. According to German media reports, Fortuna were considering signing Weissman for around €500,000 ($576,000), taking advantage of a drop in his market value due to a lacklustre stint in the Segunda division last season, where he bagged just two league goals. In the season before, whilst on loan at US Salernitana 1919, Weissman failed to help the Italian club avoid relegation from the top flight to Serie B. Since Israel went to war on Gaza, several Israeli athletes, including Olympians, have expressed support for the Israeli military's assault, with some signing messages on bombs prior to them being fired against besieged Palestinians. According to the Palestinian Football Association, at least 400 footballers have been killed and nearly 300 sports facilities, including stadiums, gyms and club buildings, have been destroyed.


What's On
2 days ago
- What's On
Heavyweight title to headline UFC 321 in Abu Dhabi this October
The Octagon is set to return to Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. UFC®, the world's premier mixed martial arts organisation, is bringing another blockbuster card to the capital with UFC 321, headlined by a heavyweight title showdown between reigning champ Tom Aspinall and French phenom Ciryl Gane. Mark your calendars, the event takes place on Saturday, October 25 at Etihad Arena, promising an action-packed evening of elite MMA. How to get tickets Tickets are now on sale for UFC 321 and are available via Ticket Master and Etihad Arena but don't wait around, they're expected to sell fast. Want the VIP treatment? Premium experience packages are also available, offering exclusive extras like ringside seats, fighter meet-and-greets, VIP weigh-in access, and more. The main event: Aspinall vs Gane After a knockout win over Sergei Pavlovich, heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall (15-3) is back to defend his title for the first time. With a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and crisp boxing skills, the Manchester native is out to make a statement. Facing him is former interim champ Ciryl Gane (13-2), making his 2025 debut. The French striker is known for his speed, technique, and sharp footwork, and he's hungry to reclaim UFC gold. The fight card (so far) In true Abu Dhabi style, UFC 321 is stacked with top-tier talent. Here's a look at the confirmed bouts: Aleksandar Rakic vs Azamat Murzakanov (Light Heavyweight) Alexander Volkov vs Jailton Almeida (Heavyweight) Azat Maksum vs Mitch Raposo (Flyweight) Ikram Aliskerov vs JunYong Park (Middleweight) Hamdy Abdelwahab vs Chris Barnett (Heavyweight) A fight night legacy in Abu Dhabi UFC 321 marks the second UFC event in Abu Dhabi this year, further cementing the capital's reputation as a fight night hub. From Khabib's legendary title defense at UFC® 242 to Ilia Topuria vs Max Holloway at UFC 308, and recently last month UFC fight night where Reinier de Ridder won his first main event fight over former middleweight champ Robert Whittaker, the city continues to deliver unforgettable MMA moments. Stay tuned for more fight week announcements and fan activations as part of Abu Dhabi Showdown Week. Details at a glance Location: Etihad Arena, Yas Island Date: Saturday, October 25 Tickets:: On sale via and Image: Supplied > Sign up for FREE to get exclusive updates that you are interested in