In the summer of 2024, upon the expiration of his contract with Juventus, Adrien Rabiot took some time to secure a new club. To the astonishment of many, the French international, a product of the PSG academy, ultimately agreed to join Olympique de Marseille. It has since come to light that Rabiot had several other prestigious options available to him, making his decision to sign with OM even more remarkable.
After concluding his five-year tenure with Juventus from 2019 to 2024, where he had become a familiar presence in Serie A, Adrien Rabiot was a free agent. Despite attracting interest from top European clubs offering seemingly more ambitious projects, the midfielder, who honed his skills at PSG, chose to make the move to OM. This decision preceded his eventual return to Italian football just a year later, joining AC Milan. His departure from Marseille followed a reported altercation with Jonathan Rowe, leading him to settle in Lombardy and once again compete in Italy’s top flight.
Ancelotti’s desire for real madrid
Beyond his PSG roots, Adrien Rabiot’s decision to join OM raised eyebrows, particularly as the Phocaean club was not participating in any European competition at the time. Nevertheless, the French international was swayed by Marseille’s appeal, even though a potential transfer to Real Madrid was on the table. During Rabiot’s impressive performance at the World Cup with the French national team, it was revealed that Carlo Ancelotti, then manager of Real Madrid, had expressed a strong desire to sign him. On August 30, 2024, when Rabiot was without a club, Ancelotti reportedly wanted to bring him to the Spanish capital. Despite this high-profile interest, Adrien Rabiot ultimately chose OM over a move to Madrid.
“I went for it with audacity”
The pivotal figure behind Adrien Rabiot’s arrival at OM was Medhi Benatia, who served as the club’s director of football at the time. Reflecting on this significant acquisition, the former Moroccan international explained his unconventional approach: “Adrien was available as a free agent; his contract with Juve hadn’t been renewed. He had numerous options, but for various reasons, he hadn’t reached an agreement anywhere. I had been following the transfer market closely, observing his situation. So, I decided to go for it with audacity.” Benatia described Rabiot as a true football enthusiast who gives his all. “When I called him, I thought, at worst he’ll say no, I have nothing to lose. But if it works…” To Benatia’s surprise, Rabiot called him back just 24 hours later. “I told him, ‘Adri, my friend, I gave you 48 hours, not 24. Are you sure you’ve thought this through?’ He replied, ‘No, no, I’ve thought about it. I’ll give you my mother’s number; call her, and you can start.’ I said, ‘Don’t worry, I already have everything. I just need you to confirm…’ He then said, ‘No, it’s good. It’s how you spoke to me about football. It’s good, I want to come.'”