AC Milan leave world’s best free agent to Man Utd

Carlo Garganese

• Updated: 3 Sept 2024 12:04 BST
• 4 min read

Manchester United have received a boost to their chances of signing Adrien Rabiot after AC Milan pulled out of the race for the France star.

Milan had been in talks to sign Rabiot on a free transfer but they needed to sell fellow midfielder Ismael Bennacer to free up space and money for the Frenchman.

Bennacer had been in talks with Saudi Pro League clubs but the closing of the Saudi Arabia transfer window on Monday means that the Algerian will now stay at Milan this season.

READ MORE: Premier League summer transfers 2024: All the Done Deals

This means that Milan have had to drop their interest in Rabiot.

This is a boost to Man Utd, who know that one of the favourites to sign Rabiot is no longer in the running.

Rabiot is available on a free transfer after his contract with Juventus expired on July 1.

He is arguably the most prestigious free agent on the market and has been a target for Man Utd for over two years now.

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Manchester United continue to monitor Rabiot, despite their recent signing of Manuel Ugarte from PSG.

Indeed, the 3-0 thrashing by Liverpool on Sunday at Old Trafford has further highlighted the weaknesses in midfield with Casemiro in particular struggling.

Rabiot and Man Utd

Man Utd had been the favourites to sign Rabiot this summer having been close to buying him on two occasions in the past, but Milan are now in the driving seat.

United had been in discussions with the midfielder’s agent and mother Veronique Rabiot last summer about signing Rabiot.

READ MORE: Saudi Pro League summer transfers 2024: All the Done Deals

The Red Devils were expected to sign Rabiot on a free transfer in the summer of 2023 as his contract at Juventus ticked down.

But the midfielder chose to stay in Turin in the end, signing a new one-year extension days before his contract expired.

It was the second time in a year that he had rejected United.

It is widely understood that Juventus and Man Utd agreed on a transfer fee worth €18m plus €6m in add-ons in the summer of 2022.

But United were unable to agree personal terms with Rabiot, with Veronique again blamed for excessive demands. United then signed Casemiro instead.

Rabiot, 29, joined Juventus on a free transfer from PSG in 2019. He made over 200 appearances for the club, winning one Scudetto.

He had the best season of his career in 2022-23 with 11 goals in all competitions. He was not as impressive last season with five goals.