Player Review

The squad you'll see is the in game version that I used, it was set up in a 4-2-3-1 so that every player had full chemistry, so this review isn't based on a player that isn't at his full potential. So don't worry about that.

To start with, I feel like in general this player is very underused, and when he is, he's not utilized. I played Verratti with a SHADOW chemistry style as a right central midfielder with the tactic of staying back whilst the team attacked. The first thing I noticed was his PACE, on the card it's listed low, and with SHADOW it doesn't increase to an amount that seems ridiculous. That being said, he still kept up with wingers and tracked back to cover the wing in very vital moments. He still pressured Hazard, Sane, Mane and even Mbappe when they were played in behind. Which leads onto the next main point, his DEFENDING, he always puts himself in a position where he can make a crucial tackle, or at least pressure the player with the ball enough to disrupt the play. On his card the stat is only 80, but with SHADOW he feels incredible, if he was taller and stronger I'd honestly replace FUT SWAPS JUAN JESUS with him in a heartbeat. You'll find that he supports the CDM very well in a 4-1-2-1-2(2) formation, this is because of his amazing work ethic, if the CDM can hold up the play Verratti will always be there to poke away the ball, and event hough his lack of STRENGTH he still keeps the ball after a challenge, instead of it bouncing back to attacker.

Offensively, I was quick to notice the brilliance of his PASSING, whilst his card only says 86 it really seems low in comparison of what is going on in game. which will most likely be due to him being bottle necked by his CURVE, FK ACCURACY and CROSSING. Which aren't that important for a CM like Verratti, his LONG PASSING and SHORT PASSING being at 91 and 92 respectively, means that he won't give the ball away whilst play making like a lot of midfielders I've used this year, I have him paired with HEADLINERS DEMIRBRAY in midfield, and I find that Verratti outclasses him in with passes in many ways. The only player I've used that has better passing is POTM GORETZKA.

Staying with offense, we have his DRIBBLING and SHOOTING, which for the most part is good. His DRIBBLING is on par with the great cards I've used this year, like 2ND IF REUS and IF WILLIAN, the ball stays stuck to his feet and he has 4* SKILL MOVES to catch defending players that don't come up against Verratti often to be caught off guard, allowing him to open up space for passes into his teammates. However, with his SHOOTING, it's another story. The 61 stat on his card certainly does not lie, the highest stat is his ATTACK POSITIONING which I understand, he's often in the right places but when he is, he can't do anything with the ball, so unless you plan on making an extra pass when playing him through, don't bother. The only goal I scored with him was an open header 6 yards out, just leave him out the attack.

When it comes to his physical, he's very weak, and it's noticable. Sure the height means he glides through the air, but he loses every header and every 50/50. And he likes to go for challenges a lot, there's been plenty of times where he just tries to out jump Lukaku, Diego Costa etc. And he just gives them free goals, because the other defenders run away from the challenge once Verratti has committed.

To summarize:

Pace - 7 when compared to everyone else (for his stat it's a 10)

Shooting - 2

Passing - 10

Dribbling - 10

Defending - 10

Physicality - 3