Adrien Rabiot is set for a Ligue 1 homecoming after Premier League suitors dropped the ball on bagging his signature.
The French midfield maestro cut ties with Juventus when his contract expired at last season’s end. He’s since been the subject of summer gossip linking him with Manchester United. Despite the talk, no firm offers materialised.
Marseille have now pipped everyone to the post, confirming they’ve locked in Rabiot for a return to French football. The 29-year-old has been flirting with the idea of an English adventure for years, with United frequently headlining as a potential destination.
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The Red Devils’ interest in the player reportedly goes back to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s days and persisted through to Erik ten Hag’s era taking charge in 2022. Speculation intensified last month in the wake of veteran midfielder Casemiro’s horror show in the 3-0 demolition by arch-rivals Liverpool.
Rabiot’s mum and agent, Veronique, has now said that while United made moves two years ago, talks got no further than the preliminary stages, with no figures chatted about because her son wanted to stick it out in Italy, reports the Mirror.
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(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
Veronique said: “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.”
United’s transfer whispers on snatching up Rabiot were silenced after combative holding midfielder Manuel Ugarte’s arrival from PSG, not to mention Rabiot’s mum rubbishing a return to Juventus. She said: “There is no need to close the door, returning to Juventus was not an option considered. When we make decisions, we take responsibility for them.”
Meanwhile, Marseille have all but rolled out the welcome mat, pending his medical. The club said: “Olympique de Marseille announces that it has reached an agreement in principle with Adrien Rabiot for the arrival of the French international midfielder at the club. The player will sign with OM subject to the results of the medical examination.”