Former PSG star loses Newcastle interest after collapsed Man Utd, Tottenham deals
By Manuel Meza
Paris Saint-Germain is well known for producing numerous top-tier talents such as Kingsley Coman, Mike Maignan, Moussa Diaby, Christopher Nkunku, and more recently, Warren Zaire-Emery. Five years ago, though it feels like less, Adrien Rabiot bid farewell to PSG, joining Juventus on a free transfer, in a saga that left a sour taste for many PSG fans.
Back then, Rabiot and his camp successfully deployed the strategy of refusing to renew his contract, forcing a free-agent departure. However, this summer, things haven’t been as straightforward. The now 29-year-old French midfielder's contract with Juventus ended this summer, but he has yet to secure a new club.
According to Football Insider (h/t World Soccer Talk), Rabiot has now lost the interest of another Premier League giant, this time Newcastle United. It’s easy to think that NUFC, with their financial muscle, would not hesitate to offer large wages and contracts to their transfer targets. However, the English club is so well-managed that they have no intention of being drawn into those sorts of games. In fact, according to the same source, the Magpies considered Rabiot’s wage demands too high and have since pulled out of the race.
Former PSG star loses Newcastle interest after collapsed Man Utd, Tottenham deals
This rejection follows that of Manchester United, who, as World Soccer Talk explains, also refused to meet Rabiot’s high wage demands. It appears that the only clubs willing to satisfy the 29-year-old Frenchman’s financial requirements are those in the Saudi League, but such a move could jeopardise his place in the French national team.
Another club that recently turned down Adrien Rabiot’s approach is Tottenham. What's interesting here is that the Spurs had previously tried to sign the midfielder a few years ago, but he rejected them at the time, claiming they didn't match his ambitions. Now, karma has come full circle for the Parisian academy product, as Tottenham’s management are also unwilling to meet his demands, and it seems they’ve definitively withdrawn from the race.
Could Rabiot fit into the current PSG squad? Frankly, I doubt it. Luis Enrique has repeatedly stated that his squad is complete and that he trusts his current players. In midfield, the Rouge & Bleu boast top-tier talents like Vitinha, Joao Neves, Fabian Ruiz, and Warren Zaire-Emery, with additional support from Kang In-Lee, Desire Doue, Senny Mayulu, among others.