Arsenal reportedly did not pursue talented Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Adrien Rabiot because of Arsene Wenger’s friendly relationship with PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi.
There was much talk about Arsene Wenger’s interest in PSG’s young French midfielder Adrien Rabiot. The youngster has been linked with a move to the North Londoners quite a few times in recent years.
The 21-year-old was again linked with a transfer to Arsenal this summer and French publication Le Parisien have now reported that Arsenal passed up an opportunity to sign the talented youngster in 2014.
The local newspaper has claimed that Rabiot could very well have become an Arsenal player, but Arsene Wenger decided to pull out of the deal out of respect for the wishes of PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi. The two reportedly have mutual admiration for each other and share a close relationship. As such, the French manager decided against pursuing Rabiot upon being informed of Al-Khelaifi’s desire to keep the player at his club.
Le Parisien have reported that the player’s representatives were ready to close a deal to bring the player to the Premier League but Arsene Wenger refused to complete the move considering the complications surrounding the deal and the effect it could have on his relationship with the French club’s president.
Adrien Rabiot has managed to slowly establish himself in the middle of the park at the Parc des Princes as he has made at least 20 or more league appearances in each of the past three seasons for the French champions. Former Sevilla boss Unai Emery, who took charge of the Ligue 1 giants this summer, has given Rabiot a more prominent role in the first team.
The midfielder has started all three of the club’s Ligue 1 games thus far and was also handed a start against Arsenal in their 1-1 draw in the Champions League group stage opener on Tuesday.
The report confirms Arsenal’s long-standing interest in Rabiot and Arsene Wenger’s relationship with Paris Saint-Germain and the club hierarchy. One would not be too surprised if Wenger and Rabiot do end up at the same club in the near future. However, only time will tell whether that is Arsenal or PSG.