Verratti is considered among Italy's most promising young players and should be a key component of Antonio Conte's midfield, but in his current condition he will not be able to join the expedition, as he reports feeling pain almost as soon as he starts to run.
There are also some disagreements between his club PSG and the Italian federation as to what the best treatment might be.
If the player's international tournament is genuinely compromised, then the best solution may be for Verratti to undergo surgery now and take the summer to recover.
However, having surgery now means that the 23-year-old's chances of going to France for the Euros drop from perhaps 30 per cent to zero, so the Azzurri would rather wait.