Back when I played for Pescara I was sought after by a lot of

Hear the words of Marco Verratti, master of the midfield, who declared: “Back when I played for Pescara I was sought after by a lot of clubs, but if I had ended up at Juventus I doubt they would have given me the same space that I have with PSG.” These words, though born in the world of football, speak to a truth far greater than the sport itself: the truth of opportunity, of freedom, and of the necessity of finding the place where one’s gifts can truly unfold. For talent alone is not enough—what matters is the soil in which it is planted, and the space in which it is allowed to grow.

The origin of this wisdom lies in Verratti’s own journey. At Pescara, he was a young player of promise, courted by giants of Italian football. Yet he did not leap blindly to the most prestigious name. Instead, he chose Paris Saint-Germain, a place where he would be entrusted with responsibility, where his role would not be overshadowed by legends of old. His reflection is an acknowledgment that even the brightest talents can wither if they are not granted the space to flourish. To have the chance to lead, to create, to shape the field—this is more precious than the glitter of a famous name.

History gives us many such examples. Consider the story of Michelangelo. Had he been bound in a court that demanded only decoration, his genius might have been stifled. But in Rome, with the Sistine Chapel as his canvas, he was given the space to pour out his vision. The greatness of his work was not only in his talent but in the freedom he was given to use it. So too with Verratti: his artistry in the midfield required a team that would trust him to orchestrate the game, rather than confine him within rigid hierarchies.

In contrast, think of countless poets, painters, and athletes whose gifts were silenced because they were not given room to breathe. How many voices were lost in the shadow of greater names, how many sparks extinguished because they were never granted the chance to burn brightly? Here lies the lesson of Verratti’s words: it is not always the grandest stage that brings greatness, but the one where a man is trusted to play his part in full.

This truth also warns us against the temptation of prestige alone. Many chase the glittering names, the lofty titles, the promise of honor, only to find themselves shackled and voiceless. But wisdom lies in discerning where we may find not only honor but freedom. For the man who serves humbly yet fully may achieve more than the one who stands in the halls of power but is never heard. The choice of PSG over Juventus was such wisdom: to seek not the most illustrious throne, but the stage where one’s voice could truly shape the song.

The lesson for us is clear: seek the place where you are given space. Do not be lured by the grandeur of names or the size of crowns, but by the chance to use your gifts fully. Whether in work, in art, or in love, choose the soil that nourishes your roots, not the stone that dazzles the eye but stifles growth. For greatness is not found in standing beneath great shadows, but in stepping into your own light.

Therefore, O listener, let Verratti’s words guide you: measure opportunities not only by their fame but by their freedom. Ask not where you will shine most brightly in the eyes of others, but where you may be most fully yourself. For in the end, it is not the size of the stage that makes the hero, but the space he is given to breathe, to create, and to rise.