Central to a team’s pressing ability is an energetic midfield; the midfield of such a team must consist of characters that possess extreme athletic abilities and endurance. This explains why Erik Ten Hag has emphasised the presence of younger and more energetic midfielders over the summer transfer window. This has influenced the signing of Mason Mount from Chelsea and the introduction of Hannibal Mejbri to the starting line-up in recent matches.
Manchester United have added the loan signing of Sofyan Amrabat, but in order to further reinforce their midfield, they have decided to maintain their interest in Adrien Rabiot. However, they are now being rivalled by Newcastle in the pursuit of the 28-year-old French midfielder.
Manchester United reportedly locked heads with Newcastle for Adrien Rabiot
Both Massimiliano Allegri, the Juventus manager, and Erik Ten Hag, the Manchester United boss, highly value Adrien Rabiot’s exceptional athletic abilities, which play a central role in a team’s pressing tactics. Rabiot’s physical prowess and work rate make him a valuable asset for executing high-intensity pressing strategies, which are crucial components of modern football tactics.
Manchester United had now attempted to snatch the 28-year-old midfielder for two summer windows. On these occasions, the Red Devils maintained constant communication with Adrien Rabiot’s representative, Veronique, who is understood to have mastered the art of negotiation.
Manchester United’s football director, John Murtough, travelled to Turin for in-person discussions with Adrien Rabiot’s representative, Veronique, last year. However, these negotiations did not yield an agreement on personal terms, despite Juventus accepting a ÂŁ14 million bid.
United’s renewed interest in Rabiot was partly driven by the absence of a transfer fee, making the deal an appealing option. Their summer budget was constrained to ÂŁ120 million due to Financial Fair Play considerations, making cost-effective signings a priority for the club.
United had to opt for a number of loan signings but secured a ÂŁ55 million bid for Mason Mount from Chelsea. However, the club is still hoping to land Adrien Rabiot from Juventus, perhaps in the January transfer window.
The race for Rabiot is now even more interesting as Newcastle is set to rival Manchester United in their pursuit of the Juve midfielder. SkySports reported on X that “Man Utd and Newcastle are battling it out to sign Juventus midfielder Adrien Rabiot, according to reports.”
Juventus midfielder’s contract situation
Adrien Rabiot impressed for Juventus last season, but there are doubts over his future with the club. His contract was to expire at the end of June. Hence, this attracted interest from English clubs like Manchester United.
However, the 28-year-old French midfielder agreed on a short contract extension with Juventus. Hence, Juventus officially announced the extension of Adrien Rabiot’s contract for one more year. The new agreement will be in effect until June 30, 2024.
Adrien Rabiot had an impressive season for Juventus, scoring a total of eight goals in 32 Serie A appearances while playing in a midfield role. This goal tally marked his best performance in terms of scoring for the club. Notably, he ended the season as Juventus’ second-highest scorer, a significant contribution during a challenging season both on and off the field.
Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri prioritized the renewal of Rabiot’s contract during the summer, highlighting the midfielder’s importance to the team’s plans.
