Roland Cutinho
Manchester United are set to miss out on Juventus midfielder Adrien Rabiot yet again
According to Italian outlet Corriere dello Sport (h/t the Manchester Evening News), Manchester United target Adrien Rabiot has reached an agreement on a new contract renewal with Juventus, thereby ending United’s hopes of signing him in the summer.
The 28-year-old was strongly linked with a move to Old Trafford last year, but the deal failed to materialise mainly due to a wage dispute.
Following that prolonged saga, Rabiot had an impressive season with Juventus, contributing 11 goals and six assists in 48 appearances across various competitions during the challenging 2022-23 campaign.
The Athletic (subscription required) earlier stated that Man United reached out to his representatives yet again as they wanted to grab the opportunity to land the free agent.
The French midfielder is represented by his mother, Veronique Rabiot, known for being a tough negotiator.
Last summer, talks with United broke down, partly due to her involvement. However, the 28-year-old expressed his openness to playing in the Premier League in December without specifying a preferred English club.
But now the fans have been dealt another shocker as Rabiot and his mother, Veronique, have reached an agreement with Juventus for a contract renewal. This development has forced the Red Devils to shift their focus to other targets in their search for midfield reinforcements.
The report states that Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri played a significant role in securing the midfielder’s commitment to a new contract. The renewal is said to be worth €7 million per year.
Rabiot, who joined Juventus from Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer in 2019, has made 227 appearances for the club, contributing 24 goals and 14 assists. He has also won one Serie A title, one Coppa Italia, and one Supercoppa Italiana during his time with the Bianconeri.
With Rabiot no longer in the picture, Man United are left with two options. They can either make another attempt to convince Chelsea to allow Mason Mount to join Old Trafford or begin considering alternative options in the market.
This news comes as another setback for United in their midfield pursuits, as they reportedly had a third bid for Mount rejected by the London club. Chelsea are still holding out for a total package of £65 million for the 24-year-old midfielder, even though Mount’s contract will expire in 2024.
While United’s third offer is still under consideration, the club is now turning its attention to other midfield options. Brighton & Hove Albion’s Moises Caicedo could be another interesting player on Erik ten Hag’s wish list.
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The upcoming weeks are crucial for the Red Devils, and they can’t afford to lose another of their targets, just as it happened in the case of Rabiot. It is just the start of an extremely long and intense transfer window that awaits the fans.
