Adrien Rabiot was the star man for Juventus' first win of the season in the Champions League. The French midfielder scored twice against Maccabi Haifa in the 3-1 win which in fact saw the "Old Lady" gain 3 points in group H, behind PSG and Benfica who both are on 7 points. Yet the same Rabiot in August was about to leave Continassa towards the red side of Manchester.
Adrien Rabiot, the up's and downs at Juventus.
The midfielder, born in 1995, arrived in Turin in the summer of 2019, on a free transfer from Paris Saint Germain. In three seasons he played 130 games for Juventus, scoring 6 goals and providing mixed performances, without finding the right continuity that is expected from a Juventus player. However, Rabiot has won everything in Italy with Juventus: the Italian Super Cup in 2020, the Scudetto in the 2019-2020 season and the 2020-2021 Italian Cup.
Negotiations with Manchester United collapsed.
At the end of a disappointing 2021-2022 season, the first season in which Juventus didn't win the league for the first time since 2012, the Italian club seemed to want to sell Adrien Rabiot, also at the request of the French player himself and his mother (also his agent) Veronique. Manchester United are the team that has come closest to buying the midfielder. In fact, in mid-August, the footballer's mother and Red Devils director John Murthough met in Turin, after the two clubs had reached an agreement on the fee a few hours prior to the meeting.
The economic demands of Veronique Rabiot were deemed too high, while the midfielder remained unconvinced of the potential destination, as Manchester United are not playing in the Champions League this year. So the deal collapsed and the player remained at Juventus.
The 2022-2023 season of Adrien Rabiot
Massimiliano Allegri has always had full confidence in Adrien Rabiot. "He is an important player" - said the Juventus coach the day before the match against Sampdoria - "and he had an excellent season last year with his characteristics". With the game against Sampdoria, also a few other things, the midfielder, making his debut in 2022-2023 in Serie A, went on to score eventhough the goal was later canceled for offside. He missed the first day due to the disqualification give on the last day of the 2021-2022 season.
Rabiot then played the matches against Roma and Spezia, starting in both cases from the first minute. He was injured for the match against Fiorentina, complaining of a thigh problem: this is why he did not participate in the away match in Florence. He returned to play for the Champions League match against his former team, Paris Saint Germain, playing for 87 minutes before leaving the pitch to give way to Moise Kean.
A few hours from Juve-Salernitana, Rabiot complains of a problem with the soleus muscle of the left leg that forces him to not play, in addition to the match against Campania, the challenges against Benfica and Monza and the commitments of the French national team in the Nations League. He returned to the Allianz Arena for the match against Bologna, playing an excellent match for 77 minutes, before being substituted for De Sciglio.
The brace in the Champions League.
Allegri confirms this from the start also against Maccabi Haifa. Rabiot put Juventus ahead in the 35th minute with a great goal in the penalty area after an illuminating pass from Angel Di Maria. The bianconeri double in the 50th minute with Vlahovic, then concede bringing the score to 2-1 after a misunderstanding between Sczeseny and Bremer. Rabiot had one thing in mind which was scoring, Di Maria from a corner kick finds the head of the French midfielder who scores his first Juventus brace.
With Rabiot on the pitch this season, Juventus have only lost against Paris Saint Germain, while in the league they have collected 8 points out of 12, thanks to draws against Sampdoria and Roma and victories against Spezia and Bologna. The bianconeri, therefore, rely on the skills of the 1995 born player to seek a comeback in Serie A and in the Champions League. Difficult mission, but not impossible.
Translated by Mohammed Ibrahim.
