Why PSG said no to former Juventus star Adrien Rabiot

Since yesterday, Adrien Rabiot has been making headlines. The PSG academy graduate is expected to join Marseille on a two-year contract. Despite rumors, he was never in PSG's plans this summer.

This summer, PSG aimed to strengthen their midfield, which they did by signing Joao Neves. However, several players were linked to the club, including Adrien Rabiot, who had been a free agent since leaving Juventus on June 30. However according to reports from Le Parisien, there was never any mutual desire for a reunion between PSG and Rabiot. There are three key reasons for this.

Why PSG said no to Adrien Rabiot

Firstly, Rabiot did not fit Luis Enrique’s vision for the team. The PSG coach, before the summer transfer window, had expressed a desire for a midfielder with strong technical skills, someone who could dictate play from a defensive position or as a central playmaker.

He specifically opposed bringing in a player with a large physical presence. As a result, Rabiot was never on PSG’s shortlist. In fact, there was never any contact between the Parisian club and the player’s camp, Le Parisien reported.

Secondly, Rabiot himself never considered returning to his boyhood club. His tumultuous final months at PSG, when he refused to extend his contract, left a lasting impact on him. PSG knew this, and with Luis Enrique determined to only rely on players highly motivated to wear the Parisian jersey, there was no chance of the two parties meeting, the report continued.

Lastly, PSG president Nasser al-Khelaifi has not forgiven Rabiot for his decision to leave on a free transfer in 2019. Known for holding grudges, the PSG president still remembers the conflict, and those close to him work hard each year to dismiss any notion of Rabiot returning.

Al-Khelaifi also hasn’t forgotten the media outbursts from Rabiot’s mother, who had accused the Qatari of making an “utterly unjust decision” regarding her son. She claimed this decision “poisoned” the team over the next five months, weakening the squad due to a lack of human understanding.