‘I could leave’ - Man Utd target all but confirms summer free transfer

Carlo Garganese

• Updated: 14 Apr 2024 10:30 BST
• 4 min read

Manchester United summer target Adrien Rabiot has confirmed that he could leave Juventus on a free transfer this summer.

Rabiot’s contract at Juventus expires at the end of the current season, and he is yet to hold any concrete talks over a renewal.

The Italian media are unanimous in their reports that Rabiot is unlikely to sign a new contract, especially as Max Allegri - who he is close to - is almost certain to leave the Bianconeri in June.

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This is the second year in a row that his contract is due to expire, with Rabiot extending his contract just days before it was set to run out at the end of June last year.

But Rabiot has now confirmed himself that he could finally leave Juventus.

What did Rabiot say?

“I remained because I wanted to remain, to help this team get back into the Champions League…even if I am not here next season,” Rabiot told Sky Sport.

“If we achieve that objective, then we will sit down and talk about it [my future]. That would certainly be better from my point of view, but we still have to discuss it.”

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Man Utd are leading the chase once again to sign Rabiot on a free transfer, although Newcastle have also joined the race.

United had been in discussions with his mother and agent Veronique this time last year.

The chances of Rabiot staying at Juventus appeared to be slim as the days ticked down to his June 30 contract expiry.

Juventus had been in talks with Rabiot over a new deal for a few months but discussions were halted when the Bianconeri were handed a final 10-point penalty which saw them fail to qualify for the Champions League.

Rabiot had made it clear that he would only stay at Juventus if they qualified for the Champions League. The points deduction meant that Juve finished seventh and they were eventually banned from Europe altogether.

But the midfielder chose to stay in the end.

It was the second time in less than 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 his mother and agent Veronique again blamed for excessive demands. United then signed Casemiro instead.

United are now set to make a third attempt at Rabiot this summer, and they could finally get their man.

Rabiot had the best season of his career last term with 11 goals in all competitions. He has not hit those heights this season.