West Ham United and Manchester United wanted to sign Adrien Rabiot on a free transfer.
That’s according to L’Equipe, which provides an insight into West Ham and Manchester United’s failed efforts to secure the midfielder’s services.
Rabiot’s contract with Juventus expired on June 30. He has been looking for a club in recent months and agreed to join Marseille on Sunday.
The 29-year-old wanted to go to a club that could offer him European football. He negotiated with Manchester United and Atletico Madrid. The report claims that Erik ten Hag’s side have offered him a four-year contract, which seems a dubious demand given his age.
L’Equipe state that West Ham and Galatasaray then “tried to lure” the former Paris Saint-Germain player. In the end he chose Marseille because their adviser Medhi Benatia was more persuasive. He was also supported by Roberto De Zerbi, who called Rabiot several times.
After convincing the French international, the Ligue 1 side worked on the financial aspect of the operation. L’Equipe say Marseille have made a strong push and Rabiot has “made a constant push” to join them.
The whole thing seems like some PR for Adrien Rabiot and Marseille.