Stormy divorce with PSG, refusal to be a reserve in the French team... Adrien Rabiot's previous affairs

"A big mess, not a small one." Laurent Blanc, Paris Saint-Germain coach in September 2014, was keen to correct a journalist's description when discussing the Adrien Rabiot case. This summer, the Parisian midfielder had only one year left on his contract and had rejected offers of an extension. He was close to signing for AS Roma before the transfer fell through.

Whose fault is it? It's Rabiot's, according to PSG, and it's the club's, according to the player, then 19 years old. As a result, Rabiot stayed but was demoted to the reserve team. "Coming to train and play in the CFA (formerly National 2) , it's not a punishment for me, I enjoy it," he replied. At the end of October, he extended his contract until 2019 and was then reinstated to the professional squad.

Skip the ad

On May 17, 2018, less than a month before the start of the World Cup in Russia, Didier Deschamps revealed the 23-man squad. Adrien Rabiot was one of the eleven reserves, those who were to be ready in case of injury. But, via email, the PSG midfielder informed the coach of his refusal to be available .

SEE ALSO – The best of Adrien Rabiot for his first season at Olympique de Marseille

"I am convinced that he made a huge mistake in taking such a position. There is no room for qualms at the very highest level," reacted a bitter Deschamps . He whose choice "does not respond to any sporting logic," Rabiot dared at the time . The Blues would be crowned world champions without him, and Deschamps would wait two years before recalling the native of Saint-Maurice.

2019: War with PSG is declared

Remember that famous contract Rabiot signed in 2014? It expires in a year, and a similar problem resurfaces. A regular starter for several seasons in Paris, the then 23-year-old midfielder never saw a satisfactory extension offer come to his desk. On December 20, 2018, his mother Véronique, who is also his agent, announced on RTL that her son was leaving . The decision was "firm and final," knowing that Rabiot could sign with the club of his choice from January ¹ .

Annoyed to see a player with high market value leave for free, PSG removed him from the squad and initiated a suspension in April. The French international spent six months without playing. "Adrien is a prisoner. He's even a hostage of PSG," his mother was outraged. He will bounce back at Juventus, but will not stop there with Paris. The case continues in court. Last June, the 2022 world champion obtained the reclassification of his contracts as permanent, revealed L'Équipe . PSG was ordered to pay him more than one million euros .

Skip the ad

This time, there was no conflict during the final year of his contract. Adrien Rabiot was a starter throughout the season at Juventus Turin. He even wore the captain's armband. But he refused offers of extensions from the Old Lady. To the point of finding himself without a club on July ^1st , in the middle of the European Championship with the French national team.

Unlikely for such a player, courted in particular by Manchester United without it materializing. The Italian press, not kind to his mother Véronique, is also incomprehensible. Rabiot spends the entire summer without a club. On September 16, he finally signs with Olympique de Marseille . Without knowing that he would come to blows a year later with his teammate, Jonathan Rowe .

SEE ALSO - Ligue 1: Maghnes Akliouche's first goal this season with AS Monaco against Le Havre AC (3-1)