Adrien Rabiot reportedly no longer a target for Manchester United | OneFootball

Manchester United are reportedly out of the race for free agent Adrien Rabiot.

The Red Devils are looking at bolstering their midfield this summer and they have been linked to a move for Benfica’s Joao Neves, but the Portuguese side’s valuation of €100 million has priced them out of a deal.

A more realistic price option to emerge is that of Manuel Ugarte at Paris Saint-Germain, who is said to be keen on a move to Old Trafford.

However, another player who has been consistently linked to the club over the last two summers, Rabiot, now seems unlikely to a similar journey to the Uruguayan.

There was a report yesterday that United had been approached alongside Premier League rivals Arsenal and Liverpool by the Frenchman’s agent to negotiate a deal but recent reports from Italy have distanced United from the race.

La Gazzetta dello Sport report that “Juve had done everything possible, going so far as to guarantee him (Rabiot) a two-year contract with the option for a third year at more or less the same sums received before, i.e. 7 and a half million plus bonuses”, but this has not been enough to convince the 29 year old to stay this summer.

The Italian paper claims that the midfielder broke his promise to Juventus by not clarifying his future before the Euro 2024 tournament and that they have had no contact with him since he became a free agent at the start of the month.

The outlet goes on to say “in recent weeks, enticed by the midfielder’s free transfer situation, various teams have inquired with Rabiot’s entourage – or with his difficult mother Veronique -: Real Madrid, Liverpool, Galatasaray, Milan and Roma. Meetings, which for now have not led Rabiot to sign with anyone.”

The fact that five teams are mentioned, and United aren’t one, likely suggests the Red Devils have given up on signing the midfielder.

In addition, by mentioning his “difficult” mother and the fact that after five meetings, none of the teams have found a deal, Rabiot’s financial requests remain excessive, as this also killed a deal with United in 2022.

What’s more, a 29 year old looking for a last big contract is unlikely to be high up Ineos’ priority list given how often that type of transfer has failed at Old Trafford over the past decade.

Ugarte, at 23 years old and hungry to prove himself, is much more in line with the profile of signing United have been linked to under the new owners and truthfully makes a lot more sense for where the Red Devils are and what they are aiming to build towards.

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