Adrien Rabiot’s interview with Tuttosport where he discussed future, his views on qualifying for the Champions League, his early football career, and his experiences playing for Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus and more.
You have two older siblings who are there to support you, in Turin, on the field…and on vacation…and your mother is also your sports agent: how important is family in Adrian’s life?
“The answer is very simple. For me, they are not only important, but necessary for feeling content and, therefore, playing at my best and living in peace.”
What are the advantages of having a mother who also works as a sports agent?
“Let’s say it depends on the type of relationship you have. For example, not everyone can have their mother as their agent. We have a very close relationship also because we have faced family problems in the past that have united us more. They are my true support system. With my mom, we know the best ways to separate our personal relationship f…
Do you believe that qualifying for the Champions League only through the league is the easiest way, or do you think it would be less complicated to achieve it through the Europa League?
“With 15 points left, it’s certain that we will be able to qualify for the most important international competition. But to be honest, considering how we played in the second half of the season, and with the strength of this group, I believe we can qualify even if the punishment stays. For me, we are now in second place because the stadium and the team have the strength to put pressure on those in front. If we win the Europa League, qualification will be automatic as we know.”
Adrien, let’s start from the beginning, since you were a child. Where and when did you start playing football?
“I started at the age of six at a club in Créteil, wearing a blue and white shirt, in the suburbs of Paris and everything started from there. Then I went to England with one of my brothers and my mother, and played for less than a year, then I returned to France when I was 13. There were some contractual problems, and we went back to our country, first in Pau where I played on weekends and during the week at a training center in the Pyrenees region, which was managed by Stopira, and I stayed there for a year and a half. Then I returned to Paris where Paris Saint-Germain took me at the age of 15.
Which team did you support and who was your role model?
“I loved Liverpool a lot because I was a fan of Steven Gerrard, who made me dream, and therefore I followed the Reds. My other idol was Zidane.”
Did you always play in midfield or did you start in a different position?
“When I was younger, they put me in the attack line, as a player behind the attackers, as a playmaker. Then, as a classic midfielder, but I loved being an attacking player. I realized that it was my nature.”
They call you the “Mad Horse,” and one gets the impression that you like this nickname… Your video wearing a horse mask was a huge success on social media… But have you ever done anything really crazy in your life?
“It’s strange that I was given this nickname, but I really love it. I’m actually a quiet boy. But on the field, it’s the opposite, and in fact, I like to be compared to the horse, which is an animal that runs freely, strong, and elegant.”
At Juventus, after four years, you became one of the pillars. What is the particularity of this club compared to others?
“The advantage is that the foundation is always work, and I love this because I have always tried to work hard and unleash myself, and this is the real reason that made me reach where I am. For me, work is the foundation of everything, and that’s why Juventus is a different reality compared to all other clubs. I didn’t play for other Italian clubs, but I don’t think there are any other clubs like Juventus.”
How do you see your future, and when do you plan to talk about it with the club?
“At the moment, there is no news, but we will definitely talk soon because in about two months the season will end, and we will try to discuss it. But I’m calm. There is a possibility of leaving, but there is also the possibility of signing another contract with Juventus for all the reasons I explained earlier. I feel good in Turin, and I’m doing well in the club, and there is a good relationship with the manager…”
Juventus is also competing for the Italian Cup. Do you believe in reaching the final and what did you think of Inter, who you beat on Sunday with complete dominance in Meazza?
“If I have to tell the truth, the impression I got on Sunday was that Inter became a weaker team than the team we faced in the first leg in Turin. It also seemed less powerful than last year and the two previous seasons. I had a feeling that they felt less secure. After all, they lost many games this year.”
You played an excellent game on Sunday, and also helped to score the decisive goal. In fact, many comments focused on his alleged hand touch before the final pass. Would this media wave also have risen in France?
“I would like to say no at all… in Italy, I realized that it is always like this when there is something that can cause discussion, it is talked about a lot and for a long time. And with us, on the other hand, it is a little less, but I understand that because in Italy football is lived almost like a religion, and therefore it represents a very important part of the lives of the people who follow it and are fans. So, I can understand why they talk a lot about everything that happens on the pitch.”
You are in the quarter-finals of the Europa League, can we say that winning this cup is currently Juventus’ main goal for the season?
“We are focusing on all fronts, and it is clear that we will try to win this cup.”
Do you consider Juve the favorite team to win the Europa League?
“Not the favorite team because there are still many good and strong teams, but we want to achieve something important. If you look back at the past few weeks and think about our performance, I can only be confident about winning the Europa League and the Italian Cup.”
You have two older siblings who are there to support you, in Turin, on the field…and on vacation…and your mother is also your sports agent: how important is family in Adrian’s life?
“The answer is very simple. For me, they are not only important, but necessary for feeling content and, therefore, playing at my best and living in peace.”
What are the advantages of having a mother who also works as a sports agent?
“Let’s say it depends on the type of relationship you have. For example, not everyone can have their mother as their agent. We have a very close relationship also because we have faced family problems in the past that have united us more. They are my true support system. With my mom, we know the best ways to separate our personal relationship from the professional and sports relationship. It’s not for everyone.”
Who is the player who has impressed you the most in the four years you have spent in the Italian first division?
“This season, it’s Osimhen. The Napoli striker is really performing well, and I must say he has improved a lot compared to last year and compared to when he played in France at Lille. It was clear he had a lot of potential, but now he’s really expressing it fully. He has really exploded. However, when I arrived, the player who impressed me the most was Dybala: Paulo has exceptional shots that can make the difference.”
What do you like about Massimiliano Allegri? Every time he talks about you, he praises you a lot.
“I think Allegri already has many qualities. In my opinion, first and foremost, he knows how to manage the group well and sometimes he speaks to players like a father. He has the quality of knowing how to communicate better with all the members of the team, as well as understanding their psychological characteristics. Then, it’s wonderful how he knows how to encourage the whole group. Even in moments of difficulty or maximum pressure, he always knows how to find the right words with the right tone. He motivates us to never give up and is always capable of leading us to victory.”
