French midfielder Adrien Rabiot embarks on a new chapter with AC Milan following his departure from Marseille. He expresses his ambition to quickly return to Champions League football, stating his readiness to provide leadership and immediately contribute to the team.
The number 12 seems to be a central theme for Adrien Rabiot`s arrival at AC Milan. His official presentation at Casa Milan took place at 12 PM on September 12th, where the new Rossoneri number 12 spoke for the first time. Rabiot, who has never worn this number before, hopes it brings him luck in other areas, particularly in scoring goals; his personal best season (2022-23 at Juventus) saw him score 11, making the prospect of 12 goals particularly appealing. This ambition is also fueled by his desire to repay coach Massimiliano Allegri, who strongly advocated for his transfer to Milan, as they previously worked together during that successful season at Juventus.
AMBITION
Rabiot describes his relationship with Allegri as special, extending beyond typical on-field dynamics. “I`ve shared so much with Allegri; I immediately felt a good connection with him. He has ambition, a desire to win, the right mentality, and a passion for football – all qualities I also possess. There was an immediate understanding. Even after he left Juventus, we continued to speak and even met up. For me, he`s a great person before being a great coach, and I`m very happy to reunite with him here.” Given their close rapport, Rabiot naturally sent a clear message for Sunday`s match: “I have a strong desire to play, I`m ready, I`m fit, and I`m here to help. If the coach puts me on the field immediately, I`ll do everything to help the team win on Sunday. Yes, I hope to start…” This constant communication with Max played a crucial role in Rabiot`s decision. “I was already speaking with Allegri when he arrived at Milan, but I was still committed to Marseille. Then, when things unfolded as they did, he called me immediately, and we discussed the Milan project, his vision for the team, and the goal of returning to the Champions League and having a successful journey.”
REGARDING ROWE…
“When things happened,” Rabiot casually mentions, referring to the dispute with Rowe that escalated, ultimately leading both players to change clubs. Adrien recounts the story, definitively closing that unpleasant chapter: “There`s nothing special between Rowe and me; we even spoke when he went to Bologna and I came here. We wished each other the best and said we`d see each other at San Siro. He`s a good guy; what happened was a dressing-room incident that can occur anywhere, and it hasn`t changed our relationship. I`ll be happy to see him, and he`ll be happy to see me.” Rabiot`s calm demeanor throughout the conference reflects the conviction stemming from his experience and the clear motivations for choosing the Rossoneri. “This year, playing for Milan might be more important than participating in the Champions League. I chose to come here for this project, with the aim of returning to the Champions League next year to achieve something significant. Winning it might be difficult, but achieving something great is possible. It`s true I could have joined a club already in the Champions League, but Allegri and the project here convinced me. This is a group eager to win.”
ENDORSEMENTS
Were there other endorsements besides Allegri? Absolutely. “Maignan spoke highly of Milan to me, and Theo also told me I`d settle in well, finding a great club and a family. I was confident I was making the right choice.” Rabiot also outlined his personal objectives: “I am proud of my career, and I want to maintain this hunger to win, score goals, provide assists, enjoy myself, and help the younger players. Milan must play in the Champions League every year and win trophies, and I am here to contribute my leadership. My role? In midfield, I believe I can play anywhere; with De Zerbi, I even played higher up. Humbly, I can do everything. However, my preferred role remains as a left mezzala. I want to score at least as many goals as last year (10 seasonal goals, editor`s note). I came with the ambition to win the Scudetto; anyone who comes here does so to win. We`ll see in March where the team stands.” His words echoed Allegri`s sentiments, indicating complete synergy.
