In a revealing interview with Gazzetta, Adrien Rabiot shed light on the reasons behind his departure from Juventus. He confirmed there was initial interest in extending his stay, and even new coach Thiago Motta had contacted him. However, Rabiot felt sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli “didn`t do what was necessary” to convince him to remain and didn`t sense a strong commitment to building a significant project. He added, “Given their chaotic season, perhaps I was right.”
Rabiot expressed long-standing frustration over the club`s recruitment, stating, “For some years now, signings up to Juve`s standard hadn`t been made, and this frustrated me because I had the impression that on the field there were few of us doing what was necessary.” Unwilling to continue under such conditions, he decided to seek a new challenge elsewhere, ultimately choosing Marseille.
Commenting on Juventus`s decision to dismiss Thiago Motta shortly after his arrival, Rabiot found it “incomprehensible” despite acknowledging the pressure for immediate results at Juve. “They spoke of a `year zero,` but a few bad results were enough to reset everything again,” he remarked, although he believes Thiago Motta has “a great future” ahead.
Despite his reasons for leaving, Rabiot holds fond memories of his time in Turin. “I loved playing at Juve and living in Turin, in Italy: it was a turning point in terms of mentality and professionalism,” he stated. He expressed deep gratitude for the “great affection” received from the club and fans, acknowledging it was “difficult to leave a team where I felt important.” He highlighted the honour of “wearing the captain`s armband,” calling it “not a small thing.” He also noted that choosing Marseille, a club without Champions League football at the time, was “not obvious” for him.
Now that Marseille has qualified for the Champions League, Rabiot looks forward to experiencing playing in that competition in the unique atmosphere of their stadium. Interestingly, he revealed he still speaks “often” with former Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri, with whom he shares a close bond, capable of discussing “everything and not just football.” Rabiot deeply respects Allegri as a person and admires his “winning mentality,” stating he would “always be available” to talk if Allegri calls.
Finally, Rabiot offered his thoughts on Juventus player Thuram, recognising his “great potential.” He believes success at Juve requires humility and hard work, qualities he sees in Thuram, but stressed the importance of “raising the level around him” for players to truly thrive.