Adrien Rabiot, fresh from a standout season at Marseille under Roberto De Zerbi, sat down for an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport during France’s training camp. Reflecting on his journey and recent choices, Rabiot shared candid thoughts about his time at Juventus, his departure, and his outlook on the club’s future.
Years of Growth at Juventus
“These were fundamental years for me, because if I can handle these responsibilities today, it’s thanks to maturing at a club like Juve, where in the end I was one of the captains,” Rabiot began, highlighting how his experience in Turin shaped his mentality and professionalism.
Leaving Juventus
“There was interest in continuing together. Even Thiago Motta called me, but Giuntoli didn’t do what was necessary to convince me. And I didn’t have the feeling he wanted to build something important. Given their chaotic season, maybe I was right. For several years, the signings were not up to Juventus’ standards and that frustrated me because I felt on the pitch there were only a few of us doing what was necessary. I didn’t want to continue under those conditions, so I preferred to challenge myself elsewhere and chose Marseille.”
The New Juventus Project
“I don’t know the details, and even though in football there’s never time and at Juve there’s always the need for results, it’s incomprehensible to bring in an excellent coach like Motta and then let him go immediately. They said it was year zero, but in the end, a few negative results were enough to reset everything again. But Thiago has a great future ahead of him.”
Fond Memories in Turin
“I loved playing for Juve and living in Turin, in Italy: it was a turning point in terms of mentality and professionalism. I received a lot of affection from everyone, at the club and from the fans, and I am grateful for that. That’s why it was difficult to leave a team where I felt important. Wearing the captain’s armband at Juventus is no small thing.”
On a Possible Call from Allegri
“Choosing Marseille without the Champions League wasn’t obvious. Now that we’ve qualified, it would be important to play in that stadium and in that environment. With Allegri, actually, I still talk often. Giovanni Rossi, De Zerbi’s advisor, also works with him and when he calls, he says: come, I’ll put your dad on the phone. With Allegri, I can talk about everything, not just football. I appreciate him a lot as a person. He has a winning mentality. And of course, if he calls me, I’ll always be available to talk.”
On Khephren Thuram
“He has great potential. At Juve, you grow by working with humility and he has everything to make his mark. But you also need to raise the level around him.”
