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RISKY

Adrien Rabiot to Juventus – An unnecessary risk or another transfer masterclass?

The French midfielder is a notorious bad boy but as a free transfer, it could prove to be another piece of golden business.

Juventus just love a free transfer, don’t they?

Andrea Pirlo, Paul Pogba, Dani Alves and Kingsley Coman can all vouch for that fact.

And The Old Lady are at it again this summer, signing PSG want-away, Adrien Rabiot and Arsenal’s Aaron Ramsey.

Is that chain mail?

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Is that chain mail?

The 24-year-old Frenchman is set to join the Turin side for free following a falling out in the French capital.

While the aforementioned free transfers – bar Ramsey – have all been undoubtedly successful, their latest freebee is the greatest risk of the lot.

Controversy seems to follow the midfield man wherever he is playing.

A wolf in sheep’s clothing?

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A wolf in sheep’s clothing?

Back in 2014 Rabiot turned down a new contract to force a move to Roma, only to change his mind a few months later and stay put at PSG.

He also missed the Coupe de France final after turning up late to a team meeting in 2015 – the same year he threatened to walk out on the club if his playing time dropped.

Rebel Rebel

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Rebel Rebel

His most famous controversy came in the run up to France’s 2019 World Cup triumph.

Rabiot declined the chance to be on the six-man standby list for Les Bleus’ squad, leaving him on just six international caps for the foreseeable future.

In hindsight… he should have stuck around

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In hindsight… he should have stuck around

There was talk of the contract rebel joining Barcelona throughout last season but it is the Turin side who are taking the gamble on a man who has been cast aside by both his national side and PSG.

With 18 medals to his name and over 250 career appearances, there is justification in the signing.

Unless, of course, your name is Aaron Ramsey.

No room at the inn for Ramsey?

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No room at the inn for Ramsey?

The Welshman would already have looked at; Miralem Pjanic, Sami Khedira and Blaise Matuidi and wondered where he could fit into such a talented midfield.

Throw in the pony-tailed Frenchman and Maurizio Sarri will have his work cut out finding room for the former Arsenal man.

New beginnings

EPA
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New beginnings

Sarri is famously particular with the type of players he has in midfield.

He will need someone to play the ‘Jorginho’ role having had the Italian at both Napoli and Chelsea.

You would imagine Matuidi would be N’golo Kante’s destructive equivalent while Pjanic can offer goals from the other side of midfied.

So it may well be between the two new arrivals to play in that deep lying midfield role which is the jewel in Sarri’s crown.

You won’t like him when he’s angry

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You won’t like him when he’s angry

So the arrival of Rabiot is kicking up a storm before he has even signed the dotted line.

But for a man who’s career has had controversy written all over it, could we expect any less?

Following Kepa Arrizabalaga’s spat with Sarri last season, it is well worth keeping your eyes on the Frenchman’s progress in Turin.


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