Adrien Rabiot and Juventus have not said it all to each other yet as the parties brace themselves for a last-ditch attempt to extend their collaboration. If Gianluca Di Marzio’s latest update was to prove true, the record-time Italian champions have grown confident of tying the Frenchman down to a new long-term contract.
Rabiot has waltzed into the final week of his deal at the Allianz Stadium. While his future was seemingly lying outside Turin not long ago, the 28-year-old may have performed a U-turn on his initial call. Only last week, rumors emerged linking the former Paris Saint-Germain midfielder with a move to Barcelona.
Given his contractual wobble and the Spaniards’ financial turmoil, they looked like a perfect match. However, there’s been a development. Instead of listening to Veronique’s bid to take her son and client to Spotify Camp Nou, Barcelona signed Ilkay Gundogan from Manchester City earlier this week.
The German’s move has effectively closed the door for Rabiot. As such, the versatile midfielder has a choice to make – pledge his short-term future to Juventus or seek a new arrangement in Saudi Arabia. That’s considering Manchester United’s interest in his services has dwindled in recent months.
While staying at Juventus wasn’t Rabiot’s preference, the options are running thin. Signing a season-long extension would allow him to maintain a regular first-team status at the Allianz Arena and hold on to his €7 million net per season wages.
Meanwhile, Juventus need Rabiot now more than ever. After failing to qualify for the Champions League for the first time in over a decade, Massimiliano Allegri’s men lost a cutting edge required to land high-profile signings. Therefore, replacing the Frenchman had he decided to go would’ve been arduous, if not impossible.
As for the Juventus-Rabiot thing, the official announcement could arrive soon.
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