Verratti defends Donnarumma, saying he'll seek French citizenship

, who plays for

and for Italy, says he will apply for French citizenship one day and defends his fellow countryman

: "He's the next big thing for the club."

Verratti moved to Paris from

Pescara

in the summer of 2012, making this his tenth year with the club. The Italy player had just been moved up to Serie A, but he had never played in Italy's top league.

"I've moved to Paris from a little village in Abruzzo, Manoppello. The Italy star told Sportweek, as quoted by La Gazzetta dello Sport, that Paris is a great city and that France has given him a lot.

"That's why I feel both Italian and French. Because my sons were born in France, I'll apply for French citizenship one day." Verratti has already spent a season at PSG with Gigio Donnarumma, who is also from Italy.

The former Milan player had a rough first season with Paris, especially after they lost 3-1 to Real Madrid in the second leg of the Round of 16 of the Champions League. Karim Benzema tied the game because the 22-year-old gave away the ball too easily. The France striker scored three goals in the end, which helped the Merengues win the game and move on to the next round.

"That's the point of football. "In July, people treated him like a king, and in March, they threw stones at him," Verratti said. "Gigio is young, but he has been through a lot. He also had some trouble at Milan, but he's our future and we're glad to have him at PSG.

How can the big teams from Ligue 1 win the Champions League? The 29-year-old said, "We aren't missing much. In the last two years, we've played in a Final and a Semi-Final. We need to keep working hard and maybe don't start from scratch every time."

"Everyone wants to do more, but we've won 28 trophies in ten years, which isn't something to take for granted. We'll try to win the Champions League every season because we know it's the most important trophy.

Verratti was on the Italy team that won the Euros a year ago. However, eight months later, the Azzurri failed to qualify for the World Cup for the second straight time.  "It was a disaster, and we felt different things about it. We won the Euros, but then we couldn't win," Verratti said.

"There are no longer any easy games, and mistakes cost you. We are a talented group, so not everything should be thrown away. You can win or lose in life and in football, but you must always work hard. We want to get Italy to the World Cup, where it belongs." Tomorrow, July 16, the magazine Sportweek from

Gazzetta dello Sport

will print the full interview with Verratti.

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