Legendary defender Giorgio Cheillini is begging Juventus to ‘keep’ Adrien Rabiot as Premier League giants Manchester United renew their interest in the Serie A-winning France international.
Barely a day went by, during Casemiro’s outstanding first few months at Old Trafford, without Manchester United supporters paying a grateful tribute to one Veronique Rabiot.
According to Fabrizio Romano, negotiations with Rabiot broke down last summer following drawn-out talks with teh Frenchman’s famously formidable mother. Casemiro would arrive instead, rapidly becoming one of United’s most popular signings of the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era.
But while the former Paris Saint-Germain ace was often referred to as an alternative to Casemiro, there is no reason why he cannot play alongside the Brazilian battle-axe at the heart of Erik ten Hag’s engine room.
28-year-old Rabiot has been a revelation in a more advanced role of late. He’s scored a career-best 11 goals, setting up five more, and L’Equipe believe that the one-time City youngster could belatedly be on his way back to Manchester with his contract expiring in the summer.
Will Manchester United finally sign Juventus’ Adrien Rabiot?
Iconic centre-half Chiellini hopes to see his one-time team-mate stick around. The Europa League semi-finalists, Chiellini adds, should not think twice about offering Rabiot a new deal.
“Juve must keep him,” the former Bianconeri captain tells Tuttomercatoweb following Thursday’s last-four exit at the hands of (who else?) Sevilla.
“He is a true leader, and he has demonstrated that with his deeds (on the pitch). His contract is expiring, but Juventus must keep him.”
Rabiot has played the best football of his career in a box-to-box, left-sided central midfield role this term. If did arrive at Old Trafford, the five-time Ligue 1 champion would likely replace Christian Eriksen in Ten Hag’s XI; a more athletic, physical alternative to the technically-gifted but defensively-deficient Dane.
His free-agent status, meanwhile, will also appeal to a Man United side who may be operating on a transfer budget of around £100 million; new owners or no new owners.
Rabiot arriving for nothing would enhance Ten Hag’s midfield options while saving funds for more expensive additions up front and in goal.
“He is world class,” former Juventus and France striker David Trezeguet tells Sky Italia.
“An extraordinary player.”
‘Today, he is a complete midfielder,” adds Les Bleus coach Didier Deschamps. “Whether lower or higher (on the pitch), he defines himself.”
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