Why PSG Would Be Mad to Sell Youth Star Adrien Rabiot

Until a few weeks ago, most people may have thought that Paris Saint-Germain would be right to sell youth star Adrien Rabiot.

The 20-year-old had been enduring a disappointing start to the season because of poor form and injury, while the multiple incidents that have highlighted his bad attitude in the past mean that he remains a largely unpopular figure with the French champions’ supporters.

Rabiot’s mother, Veronique, has been vocal in the past about her opinion that her son’s footballing future lies elsewhere. One such instance is provided by ESPN FC’s Ian Holyman’s reporting of her interview with Canal Supporters:

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Adrien loves PSG, it's the club of his heart. He would like to spend his career there. But it's not possible. 

He needs 35 full games a season to be able to continue improving. Adrien won't get them next season. As he can't get a place for himself, it's preferable he leaves. Adrien is happy when he wears PSG's colours. He's not leaving for leaving's sake. He wants to leave to play. If he can't play at PSG, his choice would be to go to the Premier League. 

I've been asking for a meeting with president Al Khelaifi since Feb. 18, but I have heard nothing. During my meeting with Olivier Letang, I told him I was asking for a transfer.

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The mother-and-son pair were also embroiled in a bitter fight with PSG toward the end of 2014 until the France under-21 international ended months of exile from the senior squad by signing a new contract until 2019.

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However, the last few weeks could prove to be the making of Rabiot at PSG. Les Parisiens’ No. 25 has started all four of the capital club’s most recent Ligue 1 matches, and he also played an important role in the French giants’ 1-0 defeat away at Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League.

When Marco Verratti was forced to come off injured after 17 minutes at Santiago Bernabeu, Rabiot was thrown on in his place. Not only did the young Frenchman rise to the challenge in Madrid, he excelled.

Despite the defeat, the PSG youth academy product was outstanding and along with Angel Di Maria—he was the best performer for Laurent Blanc’s men on the night. Rabiot admitted to PSG.fr prior to the 5-0 win over Toulouse at Parc des Princes that he was delighted with his impact:

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Yes, completely different. On Tuesday, I wasn't expecting to come on at all. Usually, the coach asks you to go and warm up for twenty minutes before he makes any changes, so you have time to prepare. But on Tuesday, everything moved pretty quickly. I didn’t have a chance to warm up, so I had to be careful not to injure myself, but at the same time I was aware that it was the Champions League, that the game was moving very quickly and that I couldn't afford to make any mistakes. Luckily, I adapted pretty quickly.

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Verratti’s injury has now been diagnosed, and the Italy international is expected to be missing until at least early December with a tibial-fibular problem. While his absence will obviously be a blow for the Ligue 1 leaders, Rabiot’s recent re-emergence helps to cushion it considerably.

After his mature showing in Spain, the player followed it up with another strong outing in the easy win over Toulouse—the club with which he spent time on loan back in 2013—just four days later. Rabiot revealed to PSG.fr after the victory that it was important for the team to bounce back after their defeat to Real:

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We were very disciplined, very focused and scored a lot of goals without conceding. It's good for the confidence. After the loss to Real Madrid, we needed to get back to winning ways. The attackers were criticized a bit after the game in Madrid, and they responded tonight. It's important for them, and for us. Now we head of on international duty on a high note.

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In many ways, the current international break has come at the wrong time for the Frenchman. In the thick of the action for PSG at present, Rabiot is happy to be playing such an important role, and that was reflected in recent comments he made to the French press (h/t Infosport+).

Rabiot underlined his satisfaction at getting regular game time and also expressed his hope that this will continue. He went on to suggest that if he was not happy, then his performances would not be reaching their current level.

One of the contributing factors toward Rabiot’s current happiness is likely to be the fact that his current run of games has allowed him to demonstrate that he is capable of playing an important role in Blanc’s starting XI.

According to Thiago Silva’s interview with Canal+ (h/t paristeam.fr in French), the French midfielder’s ability has never been in doubt.

Silva revealed that he speaks regularly with Rabiot and empathised with the youngster's situation, trying to integrate into a team that is expected to win every trophy it competes for. The Brazil international reaffirmed his belief that Rabiot is a great talent, also noting his humility and the South American expressed his desire to help his young teammate develop in any way possible.

Rabiot’s Real Madrid display backed up Silva’s praise, and Verratti’s injury and anticipated unavailability until at least early December gives the former time to pose Blanc a few headaches for when the Azzurri star returns to action.

Verratti will not be kept out of the starting XI by Rabiot, but it is possible that the latter’s continued strong form could earn him more playing time at the expense of France international Blaise Matuidi or Thiago Motta.

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The Italian, despite his 33 years of age, remains an integral member of Blanc’s strongest team selection. However, in order to save the former Inter Milan man for the biggest games, Le President could consider persevering with Rabiot in Motta’s deep-lying position.

If the 49-year-old does this, the Frenchman will not only be a stronger option for the team in the short-term, but he could also be sculpted into the long-term heir to Motta’s defensive-midfield position in Paris.

If Rabiot continues to develop as he is expected to and—more importantly—his attitude problems become a thing of the past, then PSG must do everything they can to keep hold of him. He is a rare talent and one who could, one day, go on to become captain.

The PSG academy produces many excellent young players, but too few of them are bled into the team and given a real chance to succeed.

Kingsley Coman was forced to leave the French capital for Juventus and has become a senior France international after impressing with current club Bayern Munich, and Les Parisiens want to avoid a repeat of the Coman situation with the likes of Rabiot, Jean-Kevin Augustin and Odsonne Edouard.

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Rabiot is one of the few PSG youth academy graduates who has a chance to make himself a part of the Ligue 1 giants’ strongest starting XI. The club would be wise to avoid a repeat of Coman’s exit, because seeing Rabiot follow his former team-mate’s path would send out a negative message to other starlets.

It is understandable that Rabiot is keen to play a big role for PSG. However, he must also look at his situation realistically. After being frozen out of the first team until he signed a new contract last year, he made 21 league appearances alone and the first of those was in late November.

Although he is an immense talent, Rabiot and his demanding mother should be satisfied with that level of involvement considering his age and the quality of the players he is competing with for a starting role.

If Rabiot can remain patient and set himself reasonable objectives each season at Parc des Princes, there is no reason why he cannot go on to become a key influence for PSG in the future.