Real Madrid were offered the chance to sign Adrien Rabiot in the past week through an intermediary, and turned it down again. The latest approach came after a strong World Cup for France, but Madrid’s view has not shifted much from the one they held when they rejected him on a free transfer in 2024. Rabiot is 31, belongs to AC Milan, and is keen to leave the Italian club.
Madrid's view of Rabiot
Madrid Universal’s reporting is blunt about the reason. Despite Rabiot’s form for France, the club remain unconvinced about pursuing a deal because of his club performances and the fit inside the dressing room.
His tournament numbers are solid enough on their own. Rabiot has started or appeared in 5 World Cup matches, played 475 minutes and produced a 7.02 average rating, with 1 goal involvement in the tournament. He has not looked like a passenger in France colours.
The problem for Madrid is that international form has not carried the same weight as his club season. The outlet says his performances at Milan were considered fairly underwhelming, and that has cooled the enthusiasm the club once had for him.
The asterisk Madrid keep raising
The second concern is less about footballing output and more about temperament. Madrid Universal describes Rabiot as a controversial and outspoken figure who has had friction in various dressing rooms throughout his career.
That is the part Madrid seem unwilling to ignore. A club can talk itself into a useful midfielder even when the fit is imperfect, but it is harder to do that when both the form and the personality questions are still there. Madrid won 4 of their last 5 league games in the form sample and finished second in La Liga, so they are not looking at a squad in obvious need of a panic buy.
The result is a familiar one for Rabiot. Real Madrid have now passed on him twice, once on a free transfer in 2024 and again after being offered him through an intermediary last week. His World Cup for France has put him back on the market, but it has not changed Madrid's answer.
Written by Daniel Hartley with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →