On Sunday, Olympique de Marseille officially announced a preliminary agreement with midfielder Adrien Rabiot (29 years old), who has been a free agent since his contract with Juventus ended in June.
Adrien Rabiot joining OM seemed impossible just a few days ago, yet here we are. According to L’Equipe, here’s how the negotiations unfolded.
Medhi Benatia, OM’s sporting advisor, was the one to initiate the move. Toward the end of the summer transfer window, OM tried to leverage AC Milan’s interest in Rabiot to secure a loan deal for Ismaël Bennacer, but it didn’t work out. Benatia then decided to contact Rabiot directly, with support from the player’s mother and agent, Véronique Rabiot. Unexpectedly, the talks were positive.
Rabiot’s Financial Compromise… Or Not
Rabiot initially sought to join a club playing in Europe, but deals with Manchester United and Atletico Madrid fell through after UEFA’s list submission deadline on September 4th. Although Rabiot received offers from clubs like West Ham and Galatasaray, it was ultimately OM’s pitch that convinced him. The personal involvement of OM’s coach, Roberto De Zerbi, who spoke with Rabiot multiple times, was also a key factor.
Financially, the deal was complex. Both Rabiot and OM made compromises to finalize the move, but mutual commitment brought the deal to fruition. The former PSG player will sign a two-year contract with OM. Rabiot received a €10 million payment upon leaving Juventus and a signing bonus. His annual salary, however, was reduced and is expected to be between €3 million and €3.5 million per year—essentially the same as what he earned at Juventus, despite his hopes for a higher wage.