Marco Verratti plans to seek French citizenship after falling in love with the country during his decade at Paris Saint-Germain.
The Italy midfielder joined PSG from Pescara in July 2012 and has won eight Ligue 1 titles, while also helping PSG reach the 2020 Champions League final.
Verratti was a Euro 2020 winner with the Azzurri, but the 29-year-old now feels such an allegiance to France that he wishes to become a fully fledged citizen of the country.
“Paris is a fantastic city and this country has given me a lot,” Verratti told Gazzetta dello Sport. “I feel very French, while remaining Italian. One day, I’ll request French nationality, given that my children were born here.”
PSG were set to get their pre-season under way on Friday as they faced Quevilly-Rouen in a friendly, their first match since the appointment of head coach Christophe Galtier.