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PSG Transfer News: Barcelona Face AC Milan Competition for Adrien Rabiot
September 5, 2018
Adrien Rabiot's future at Paris Saint-Germain beyond next summer remains uncertain, with Barcelona reportedly "confident" of wrapping up a deal for the midfielder.
Barca may be bullish about their chances, but AC Milan are also "dreaming" of acquiring the midfielder, according to Kaustubh Pandey of CalcioMercato. Pandey noted how the presence of Leonardo, once a director at PSG, could give the Rossoneri hope.
Leonardo is the sporting director in Milan, but previously held a similar role in the French capital. The Brazilian helped convince Rabiot to sign professional terms with Les Parisiens, thanks in part to a good working relationship with the player's mother, who also acts as his agent, according to Pandey.
Leonardo's presence may appear to give Milan an edge, but Barca have been on the case for a while. A report from Mundo Deportivo (h/t John Hutchinson of The Sun) has the Blaugrana likely to conclude a free-transfer swoop for Rabiot, alongside a deal for burgeoning Ajax talent Frenkie de Jong.
Barca haven't been shy about declaring interest in Rabiot, with PSG even threatening to report the Camp Nou club to FIFA last month over allegations of tapping up, per Sport (h/t Sport Witness):
Milan and Barcelona aren't the only clubs showing interest in Rabiot, with Premier League giants Liverpool also reportedly emerging as a suitor. ESPN FC's Julien Laurens said Reds manager Jurgen Klopp has "already spoken" to the player about a potential deal.
Interested parties want to take advantage of Rabiot being available on a free transfer next summer. The 23-year-old has already said no to extending his deal at the Parc des Princes, per L'Equipe (h/t The Sun's Alex Terrell).
Such a lengthy queue of interested teams is hardly a surprise since Rabiot has the attributes to succeed at any top club. Specifically, few midfielders can match his efficiency and technique in possession:
Those attributes have seen him feature regularly on Tuchel's watch despite his contract status. Rabiot has helped himself to a couple of goals in eight starts and continues to be an asset for PSG's slick brand of football.
Given his value, Les Parisiens would be wise to make another attempt to convince Rabiot to stay, even though the competition for his signature makes an exit seem increasingly likely.