Rabiot fuels Milan talk with Allegri response: “If he calls, I’ll always be available”

Adrien Rabiot has fuelled the idea that he could reunite with Massimiliano Allegri at AC Milan, calling him a father figure.

This morning, a report emerged from La Gazzetta dello Sport claiming that Rabiot is one of the names that Milan could turn to if and when the sale of Tijjani Reijnders is completed. The Frenchman knows Serie A well and he knows the new coach Allegri well too, given their days at Juventus.

The paper claim that the move could be facilitated by a clause/agreement with Marseille: to sign Rabiot, any interested club need to pay around €10m. The Rossoneri were linked with Rabiot last summer, when he was available on a free transfer.

Milan links: Rabiot responds

Rabiot gave an interview to La Gazzetta dello Sport which was published this morning alongside the new about him potentially being a target for Milan, and he admitted to still having a strong bond with Allegri.

Why did you leave Juventus?

“There was an interest in continuing together. Thiago Motta had also called me, but Giuntoli didn’t do what was necessary to convince me. And I didn’t have the feeling that he wanted to build something important.

“Given their chaotic season, maybe I was right. For a few years now, no purchases worthy of Juve had been made and this frustrated me because I had the impression that there were few of us on the pitch who did what was necessary.

“I didn’t want to continue in those conditions so I preferred to get back into the game elsewhere and I chose Marseille.”

Was more patience needed in building the new Juve project?

“I don’t know the details, and even though there’s never any time in football and Juve need results, it’s incomprehensible to go and get an excellent coach like Motta and then send him away straight away.

“They said it was year zero, in the end a few negative results were enough to reset everything again. But Thiago has a great future ahead of him.”

At Marseille you got a Champions League place. But what if Allegri, who has returned to Milan, called you?

“Choosing Marseille without the Champions League was not a given. Now that we have qualified, it would be important to be able to play it in that stadium and in that environment.

“I actually speak to Allegri often. Giovanni Rossi, De Zerbi’s advisor, also works with him and when he calls him he tells me: ‘Come and I’ll put you through to your dad’. I can talk to Allegri about everything and not just football.

“I really appreciate him as a person. He has a winning mentality. And it’s clear, if he calls me I’ll always be available to talk to him.”

What did you think of the Champions League final?

“There was no match. We all wondered here where Inter were that eliminated Barcelona. Maybe Lautaro wasn’t at his best and only Thuram was saved. Then PSG played a great match that rewards a great season. But losing 5-0 is humiliating: Inter didn’t show up in the final.”