Adrien Rabiot had forgotten spell in Manchester way before Man Utd agreed fee
Adrien Rabiot looks set to join the Erik ten Hag revolution at Old Trafford … but did you know he's actually played in Manchester before?
The Juventus midfielder, who is currently in talks over a £15million move to Manchester United, had a six month stint in Manchester City's academy as a youngster back in 2008 – and very nearly joined them permanently.
At just 13-years-old, Rabiot was spotted by City's scouts, who hastily offered him a deal, while playing in the French national academy at Clairefontaine – the talent factory that produced the likes of Thierry Henry, Kylian Mbappe, and Nicolas Anelka, among many others.
READ MORE: Man Utd agree Adrien Rabiot fee – but bonkers mum is still a 'stumbling block'
"During the last entry course at Clairefontaine, Manchester City recruiters were present," Rabiot explained back in 2020. "They told my mum they were interested in my profile. We made the decision to go to England.
"Everything was going well, but after six months, the club did not respect certain agreements, so my mother said 'Stop' and we went home."
City, however, claim the reason for Rabiot's departure was that his mother Veronique wanted assurances that the club couldn't provide, due to FIFA regulations about foreign youngsters at the time.
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In any case, leaving England worked out well for the young Frenchman, who was snapped up by PSG two years later following an impressive spell at Pau FC.
Two years after that Rabiot was breaking into the club's first team after impressing manager Carlo Ancelotti, who was hugely fond of his blend of tenacity and elegance.
After seven years in Paris, in which he won five Ligue 1 titles, Rabiot moved to Juventus at the end of the 2018/19 season having fallen out with now Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel – who had earlier suspended the midfielder after finding out he'd gone clubbing in the aftermath of their 3-1 defeat to Manchester United in the Champions League.
Discipline problems have dogged the 27-year-old his entire career, but his natural ability is undeniable and if Ten Hag manages to properly harness it, it might finally give United a reason to make rivals City jealous.
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