Interest in Rabiot focuses on the department where the club invested most heavily this summer. Despite recent acquisitions, Coach Allegri still perceives a lack of specific qualities within the squad.
Talk of Adrien Rabiot joining AC Milan first surfaced mid-summer and resurfaces now as the transfer window draws to a close. This potential move would signify a professional reunion with Massimiliano Allegri, his former coach and a key figure in his career. The renewed interest in the French midfielder clearly stems from a specific request by the coach, who sees in Rabiot an ideal profile for particular roles in that area of the pitch.
From a transfer fee perspective, the operation appears sustainable, with Marseille reportedly asking around 15 million euros for a player whose contract expires in 2026. While the salary demands would be more substantial, they are not considered prohibitive. Essentially, AC Milan seems to be in a position to finalize the deal. However, a crucial condition is the departure of Musah, for whom discussions with Atalanta are ongoing. Without the sale of the U.S. international, Rabiot`s arrival would bring the squad`s midfielder count to seven, an excessive number for a team without European commitments.
A High Level of Reinforcements
It is precisely this abundance that prompts reflection, perhaps even provocation. The midfield has, in fact, been the sector where the club has invested most significantly in terms of both quantity and quality. A notably strong transfer campaign brought in star players like Modric, a versatile talent like Jashari, and a disciplined operator like Ricci. Furthermore, Allegri is developing Fofana with new offensive duties, transforming him into a very promising attacking midfielder (despite his finishing still needing refinement, which will require private training sessions at Milanello).
In short, among the three departments, the midfield was, and remains, undoubtedly the best-structured and the one where the club has operated most successfully. Yet, with a defense seemingly trapped in a `castle of horrors` and an attack where Gimenez doesn`t provide sufficient goal-scoring guarantees, AC Milan continues to cast its gaze towards the midfield.
The Rationale Behind the Search
But why? This is the fundamental question. A straightforward answer is that every coach naturally favors specific players who are functional to their style of play. And the midfield is often considered the most crucial area of the field. However, delving deeper, one might hypothesize: if Allegri, despite already having six midfielders in the squad—all with different characteristics (in alphabetical order: Fofana, Jashari, Loftus-Cheek, Modric, Musah, Ricci)—still feels the need for another addition, then there are two possible conclusions.
Either there was no clear consensus on objectives during the planning phase, or Allegri, at the end of August, believes that his midfield, despite everything, lacks certain specific qualities. Qualities that Rabiot, in his judgment, evidently possesses.
