Fabrizio Romano has given a definitive update on Manchester United’s prospects of signing French midfielder Adrien Rabiot as the Red Devils continue to search for reinforcements in the middle of the pitch.
A long-term target
Rabiot, 30, is a long-standing player of interest at Old Trafford with United having come close to signing him on multiple occasions in recent years.
In 2022, during Erik ten Hag’s first summer transfer window, United agreed a deal worth a potential £20 million with Juventus to sign Rabiot.
But the France international rejected the offer due to “very disrespectful” terms in negotiations with the club’s executives, according to Veronique Rabiot – the player’s mother and agent.
United were again linked with a move last summer when Rabiot’s contract in Turin expired and the club wanted to strengthen the midfield.
But INEOS have implemented a shift away from targeting older players on expensive deals, as had become commonplace at Old Trafford in the past decade, and a move never materialised.
Rabiot instead joined French side Marseille where he made 29 appearances in Ligue 1, returning an impressive nine goals and four assists for Roberto De Zerbi’s side.
Third time is the charm?
Despite enjoying such a strong campaign last year, Marseille have put Rabiot up for sale this summer after taking the extraordinary step to suspend him for disciplinary reasons.
The French club revealed Rabiot and Jonathan Rowe had engaged in “unacceptable behaviour in the dressing room” after an alleged bust-up between the pair.
Romano states 30-year-old has since been looking for a new club this month and , once again, has been offered to United, with a price of between €15m-€20m set to strike a deal with Marseille.
However, the Italian transfer expert reveals the Red Devils are “focused on different things” and there are “zero movements” towards signing Rabiot.
United are continuing to explore options in midfield after a failed pursuit of first-choice target, Carlos Baleba, with Brighton categorically ruling out a move this summer.
There is an expectation United will return for the 21-year-old Cameroon international next year – which made the prospect of a short-term option with a wealth of experience at domestic and international level an interesting proposition.
But INEOS appear intent on moving on from the mistakes of the past – and a deal for a poorly behaved 30-year-old midfielder with a big name and bigger wages is exactly the type of player Ed Woodward would have signed on the final day of the summer window.
Thankfully, Ed left the building some time ago, which means Rabiot will not be entering it either.
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Darragh Fox
Darragh is a writer for The Peoples Person who spent three years as a history graduate slowly realising football was by far the most interesting thing to write about.
