Reported Everton and Arsenal target Adrien Rabiot has ‘all the qualities to be a top player’ according to Laurent Blanc, with a former manager speaking out in support of the Juventus midfielder in quotes reported by Tuttosport.
If this controversy-courting Frenchman is fighting for his future in Turin, then a genuine Goal of the Season contender against none other than AC Milan last week could hardly have been better timed.
Rabiot has struggled to secure a regular place in Maurizio Sarri’s starting XI since he swapped PSG for Juve last summer.
But, after ten rather underwhelming months in Italy, he finally opened his account with a Ryan Giggs-inspired stunner last week.
Though a brilliant individual effort, which highlighted the 25-year-old’s perfect blend of physical and technical gifts, has not exactly silenced the speculation surrounding his role in Sarri’s plans.
Calciomercato reported in May that Newcastle United had held talks regarding a £25 million, £120,000-a-week deal to bring Rabiot to St James’ Park.
Everton and Arsenal, meanwhile, were both lined via Tuttomercatoweb with Carlo Ancelotti apparently keen to reunite with his one-time PSG prospect at Goodison Park.
But according to another former Parc des Princes boss, Rabiot still has a lot to offer at the runaway Serie A leaders.
“Aside from his brief experience at Manchester City at the age of 14, for him this is the first real adult adventure away from home, away from France,” the 1998 World Cup winner explains.
“A time of adaptation to Italian football and to a great club like Juventus had to be taken into account. How to get the best from him? We must make him feel confident… I also had problems with him at the beginning in Paris.
“In post-lockdown games, I saw an Adrien very similar to the one I trained at PSG. More enterprising, skilled in transitions and powerful. But Rabiot can do even more because he has all the qualities to become a top player. He probably hasn’t figured out how strong he is yet.
“If the Bianconeri bet on him a year ago they must be patient because they have a great talent on their hands. Trust me, there are few players like him and it won’t take long to reach the top.”
With Juventus’s director of football Fabio Paratici telling Sky Italia earlier this month that the Italian giants have not given up on Rabiot just yet, the smart money is on one of football’s most divisive characters sticking around for another year at least.
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