Lionel Messi & Marco Verratti: A Friendship started via Ezequiel Lavezzi | OneFootball

As explored in-depth by Le Parisien, Lionel Messi and Marco Verratti’s friendship spans to a time before the Argentinian ever set-foot in the French capital, with the help of a few notable friends in common such as Ezequiel Lavezzi, and a mutual respect of their game.

Since the arrival of Messi at PSG, Marco Verratti has reportedly been the player that has done the most to help his more reserved Argentinian team-mate adapt to life in France, helping him to understand the French language even though their exchanges are mostly in Spanish.

Le Parisien also report that Messi and Verratti sit next to each other in the Paris dressing room at the Parc des Princes and regularly discuss their similar views on football. The Argentinian likes to talk to him about tactics and his style of play, encouraging him to hit the ball more. And, above all, he enjoys laughing at the Italian’s jokes.