Man Utd have already been given eight-word switch increase by Adrien Rabiot’s mum
Long-time Manchester United target Adrien Rabiot remains on “excellent terms” with Erik ten Hag’s side, according to his mum Veronique.
Back in the summer of 2022, when Ten Hag first took the reins at Old Trafford, it looked like Rabiot was all set for a move. The Red Devils were close to sorting out his pay packet and had even shaken hands on a £15m fee – but Rabiot slammed the brakes on the entire deal.
Fast forward to now, and after letting his contract run down at Juventus, Rabiot is a free agent, and it’s no secret that he’s caught Ten Hag’s eye again, as revealed by Daily Star Sport. Rabiot’s mother, who doubles as his agent, isn’t shy about piping up about her son’s career moves, and has spoken highly of their relationship with the Red Devils in the past amid prospective transfer talks.
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She told La Gazzetta dello Sport back in 2022: “We are on excellent terms with Manchester United.” And it looks like Rabiot may just reciprocate such a confession, as he’s snubbed some juicy offers from Saudi Arabia and Turkey, holding out for a gig in Europe instead.
When quizzed about the whispers that she was after a nearly £9m cut in the botched 2022 negotiations, Rabiot’s mother replied: “All false. United wanted to meet me to illustrate their interest in Adrien, but we never talked about money in detail because he quickly decided to stay in Turin.”
Rabiot also conceded: “It’s true, there were contacts with Premier League clubs, but in the end, I was lucky to stay, perhaps it was the best decision.
“The Premier League is the most followed league, but I don’t think about the future. I am focused on the World Cup. The club and I are in no hurry (over a contract extension), there’s serenity so we can consider all options.”
His mum’s willingness to enter talks could be a positive sign for those at Old Trafford with their eyes on Rabiot, despite her reputation for being somewhat confrontational. Veronique has previously been in the headlines for her no-holds-barred approach, notably unleashing a bombshell in an interview where she bemoaned her son’s situation at PSG – when his contract was due to expire.
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“He is held hostage by PSG,” she exlaimed to L’Equipe (via Goal). “Soon, it will be dry bread, water, and a dungeon. Adrien is a prisoner! They want him to put on his pyjamas at nine o’clock, before the game, in front of his TV, to go to bed at eleven o’clock!”
If Rabiot does make the switch to United in the coming window, as some rumours has indicated might happen, Veronique is set to bring her firebrand style to the English scene. Yet, insights from a family source quoted by The Athletic declare her to be a straight shooter who ultimately seeks only the best for her sporting son.
“She stands her ground,” revealed the insider. “She goes overboard but she raised her boys and took her son everywhere for football, no matter if it was minus five degrees and snow. And she is an honest woman.
“Is she too loud? Yes. But she has a lot of baggage. The context is everything. She is not a bad person. And she will always defend her son to death.”