Deal Done but face task of negotiation with fourth signing mother as Man United face one problem before announcing star
Man United and Juventus have agreed on a cost for midfielder Adrien Rabiot, but personal issues must still be worked out.
Manchester United has accepted a cost in principle with Juventus for midfielder Adrien Rabiot, which could rise to £20 million but must still work out personal details with the player’s agent, his mother.
According to sources, Rabiot’s mother, Veronique, is the “sole stumbling block,” since United must agree on appropriate personal terms.
Despite agreeing to an €85 million deal with Barcelona last month, the Manchester Evening News believes United accepted late last week that they needed to pursue alternative midfielders to Frenkie de Jong.
United’s pursuit of De Jong has not been abandoned, according to club sources, but fall-back options are being kept “warm” as a deal for De Jong is still in the works.
Rabiot, 27, is in the final year of his contract with Juventus, which has strengthened its midfield in recent years with the arrivals of Manuel Locatelli, Denis Zakaria, and Paul Pogba.
Rabiot started 28 games for Juventus last season, including six in the Champions League, however, he only joined the club after Massimiliano Allegri quit as coach in 2019. Allegri returned to Juventus last year.
Rabiot has always wanted to play for a Premier League team, and United has been interested in him since Louis van Gaal was manager.
Veronique Rabiot, Rabiot’s mother and agent, persuaded United to make a bid for her son in the 2014 summer transfer window after a deal with Roma fell through.
United kept an eye on Rabiot in 2019, but their failure to qualify for the Champions League made any potential move too expensive, and he joined Juventus on a free transfer from PSG.
Veronique Rabiot has earned a reputation in France as a battle-ax, having previously challenged PSG coach Laurent Blanc in a car park.
When it became clear that Rabiot had decided to leave PSG, club chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi was relieved that the club would no longer have to deal with his mother.
