Juventus fans must feel a sense of deja vu with the Adrien Rabiot contract saga set to dominate the headlines until the end of June. According to Gazzetta dello Sport, the record-time Serie A champions have one last ace up their sleeves.
It’s the incoming manager, Thiago Motta. Soon-to-be-the-former Bologna tactician could be a catalyst to persuade Rabiot to pledge his future to Juventus. But this time for good.
The Frenchman penned a short-term extension last summer only because the Bianconeri promised him to play a central role in their set-up during the season preceding Euro 2024. Then, there was a financial aspect.
Juventus agreed to pay Rabiot a stratospheric €9 million between fixed and variable parts, making him one of the highest-paid players in Serie A. It’s not like he earned such hefty figures on the pitch, mustering just five goals and three assists in 31 league appearances.
But he remains a vital part of the squad, nonetheless. Juventus have scheduled a meeting with Rabiot’s mother-agent Veronique. It should take place in the next few days, with the club hoping to strike an immediate agreement.
Unlike last summer, they’ve lost the Euros as a bargaining chip. However, they could use Motta’s impending arrival as an incentive to convince the 29-year-old to commit to a new long-term deal.
Rabiot and Motta shared the dressing room down the final stretch of the latter’s career at PSG. And the Frenchman has the utmost respect for the ex-Inter midfielder. Juventus chiefs believe Motta’s appointment could make Rabiot stay and forget about lucrative approaches from abroad.
In case he leaves, Juventus will turn to Atalanta’s Teun Koopmeiners.
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