Adrien Rabiot | signs 1 year deal at Juventus. See you all next year

[bosnian_red]

He's only shown it in the same league that Sancho was destroying. Some players can make that transition, others can't. Sabitzer so far is very much in the latter category. He hasn't had a single good game in our midfield yet, with his only two 'good-ish' games being when he played #10. Fred has been significantly better in the deeper roles so far.

I'm not completely writing him off as sometimes players do need a bit of time to get used to the English game (Fred himself was terrible for most of his first year), but during this loan he really hasn't shown any reason to sign him permanently.

Yeah, Sabitzer impressed most as an attacking box to box/#10 type at Leipzig anyway from what I remember, not in the deeper roles. And in terms of what we need in midfield, he just didn't fit really but was a good loan for the moment with no eriksen.

Rabiot is more measured on the ball, controlled, plays deeper naturally. Fits perfectly next to Case. Fred will stay as the squad player (and Eriksen), Sabitzer will leave without a doubt. Fred is a United player already for one, so no point in spending money to replace a player with one at the same age who isn't better for our needs.

McTominay, Donny, Sabitzer out, keep Fred another year, sign Rabiot and sign Lavia who can learn from rabiot and Casemiro so we have Lavia, Eriksen and Fred as backup. Next summer when Fred's contract is up, replace him with someone like Kokcu. Gradually get younger.

 

[Messier1994]

Just for knowledge, how does Rabiot compare to Sabitzer? Have not watched enough of him

Just my opinion, but Sabitzer attribute wise is a good fit for us. Quick, good finisher, hard working, press resilient. But you can see how our game progress a bit fast for him. There is an opening and Sabitzer is on the ball, it seems like he needs a bit too long time to process it, too often.

Rabiot can take so much more responsibility on the ball and instead dictate the tempo. He can also play both as a No 6 or 8. With that said, just casually watching him over the year, I am not sure how much you could lean on him when it comes to physically competing in the PL etc.

 

[bosnian_red]

Just for knowledge, how does Rabiot compare to Sabitzer? Have not watched enough of him

Sabitzer is an attacking 8/10 type, provides energy, pressing, goals, not a whole ton of value when he gets on the ball directly though.

Rabiot gets involved, is big on build up, is naturally a deeper player and can fit in well next to Casemiro, can also fill when necessary as a 6. He's relatively press resistant and can move with the ball decently. He's a lesser Frenkie, not as good as Frenkie in his strengths but stronger defensively, while being able to control from deep.

 

[croadyman]

Sabitzer is an attacking 8/10 type, provides energy, pressing, goals, not a whole ton of value when he gets on the ball directly though.

Rabiot gets involved, is big on build up, is naturally a deeper player and can fit in well next to Casemiro, can also fill when necessary as a 6. He's relatively press resistant and can move with the ball decently. He's a lesser Frenkie, not as good as Frenkie in his strengths but stronger defensively, while being able to control from deep.

So who do you think is out there with a similar profile to De Jong that we can get

 

[AngeloHenriquez]

So who do you think is out there with a similar profile to De Jong that we can get

Kovacic

 

[croadyman]

Kovacic

My only worry there is the age profile of our midfield with him and Rabiot. Can't help feeling we need a younger playmaker type

 

[King Kendrick]

A signing that makes no sense on paper even on a free. Just bring in Ceballos instead.

 

[Sarni]

Rabiot on a free, and a steal of £40m for Kim - this is definitely the board saying they don't have the budget for a CB, CM and a world-class ST. Ten Hag will have to spread the budget and put most of his eggs on a striker.

Side note - Rabiot does fit in with the strong mentality that Ten Hag is gathering in this team

No, this is just shrewd business. If you are trying to build your squad and think you don’t have the numbers, these are exactly the type of signings you go for. City have done it for years and with great success: Gundogan, Akanji, Ake and several other value signings to fill squad roles who went on to become very good acquisitions.

 

[Mainoldo]

A signing that makes no sense on paper even on a free. Just bring in Ceballos instead.

The fact you believe these two players can sit at the same table

 

[King Kendrick]

The fact you believe these two players can sit at the same table

One actually progresses the ball, both with passes and dribbling, which is what we should be looking for, the other is best receiving progressive passes, which is not what we should be looking for. You’re right that they’re not the same at all. Otherwise if you think AR is that much better than Dani… god bless.

 

[Cassidy]

A signing that makes no sense on paper even on a free. Just bring in Ceballos instead.

Why would that be instead? When we need to replace Fred, McTominay and Sabizter from the squad?

 

[Cassidy]

One actually progresses the ball, both with passes and dribbling, which is what we should be looking for, the other is best receiving progressive passes, which is not what we should be looking for. You’re right that they’re not the same at all. Otherwise if you think AR is that much better than Dani… god bless.

Oh I see we only need one type of midfielder... right ok

 

[Drizzle]

Kovacic

I was on this train until recently as he's a classy distributor. But I've noticed a marked decline with him of late, looks like he's running in treacle these days. A midfield base of Case and Kovacic would be the slowest midfield in history.

 

[Dannn411]

Given what his rumoured salary demands were last year, why would we go back and do this deal? Just another has-been who has been deemed surplus to requirements in Europe and is using united for a final pay day and we are always happy to oblige. Don't understand this at all.

 

[Cassidy]

Given what his rumoured salary demands were last year, why would we go back and do this deal? Just another has-been who has been deemed surplus to requirements in Europe and is using united for a final pay day and we are always happy to oblige. Don't understand this at all.

 

[UnitedSofa]

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[JPRouve]

Given what his rumoured salary demands were last year, why would we go back and do this deal? Just another has-been who has been deemed surplus to requirements in Europe and is using united for a final pay day and we are always happy to oblige. Don't understand this at all.

The rumoured demands last season were his current wage, our rumoured offer last season was a massive pay cut, iirc basically our gross offer was his net salary for 2022/2023. And Rabiot is in his prime and not deemed surplus to requirements in Europe.

 

[Irwin99]

Given what his rumoured salary demands were last year, why would we go back and do this deal? Just another has-been who has been deemed surplus to requirements in Europe and is using united for a final pay day and we are always happy to oblige. Don't understand this at all.

He's only 28 and has been Juve's best midfielder this season and also impressed at the world cup. Hardly a 'has-been'.

I think last summer he wasn't tempted by United, as EtH said recently that some players last year were hard to convince to come here knowing the club's recent troubles, but now that has changed.

 

[King Kendrick]

Oh I see we only need one type of midfielder... right ok

This is the type of midfielder that we need in order to progress as as a front foot team. Everyone is complaining we’re awful from playing out the back then want to bring in Rabiot to fix the mess. This is also the same caf who complains about viruses in the squad when there is barely any proof, god knows what’ll be said about him when shit hits the fan.

Fred will stay until next summer anyways, there’s your all action 8 if necessary. Plus we should be bringing in a Casemiro understudy and another 8 if the Lavia/Ugarte and Kokcu links are anything to go by.

 

[Wayne's World]

Given what his rumoured salary demands were last year, why would we go back and do this deal? Just another has-been who has been deemed surplus to requirements in Europe and is using united for a final pay day and we are always happy to oblige. Don't understand this at all.

He's literally been Juventus's best performer this season

 

[Cassidy]

This is the type of midfielder that we need in order to progress as as a front foot team. Everyone is complaining we’re awful from playing out the back then want to bring in Rabiot to fix the mess. This is also the same caf who complains about viruses in the squad when there is barely any proof, god knows what’ll be said about him when shit hits the fan.

Fred will stay until next summer anyways, there’s your all action 8 if necessary. Plus we should be bringing in a Casemiro understudy and another 8 if the Lavia/Ugarte and Kokcu links are anything to go by.

We need more than one profile of midfielder which is why Rabiot on a free would be a good signing. Or did you not realise that squad depth and drop in quality was a major issue this season?

 

[Mainoldo]

One actually progresses the ball, both with passes and dribbling, which is what we should be looking for, the other is best receiving progressive passes, which is not what we should be looking for. You’re right that they’re not the same at all. Otherwise if you think AR is that much better than Dani… god bless.

Apologies I’ll look out for him on Wednesday. I can’t say I’ve really watched him for 90mins.

He is playing on Wednesday right?

 

[JPRouve]

This is the type of midfielder that we need in order to progress as as a front foot team. Everyone is complaining we’re awful from playing out the back then want to bring in Rabiot to fix the mess. This is also the same caf who complains about viruses in the squad when there is barely any proof, god knows what’ll be said about him when shit hits the fan.

Fred will stay until next summer anyways, there’s your all action 8 if necessary. Plus we should be bringing in a Casemiro understudy and another 8 if the Lavia/Ugarte and Kokcu links are anything to go by.

I am in favor of adding technicians to our midfield but how is Ceballos even close to be a target over Rabiot? Ceballos has never been a starter or even threatened a starter in his career, he will be 27 years old and has basically been an afterthought everywhere he has played since he left Betis. He is typically the type of 27 years old players that we shouldn't sign, you either sign a young player or an established starter.

 

[DJ_21]

People living in fantasy land if they think we’re going to spend stupid amounts as soon as Qatar takes over us. We still have to play by financial fair play rules. Newcastle didn’t spend a ridiculous amount when they got took over.

 

[FerociousCorgis]

seems like could be a decent squad signing for a free? Idk havent really watched him lately but im over mcfred in the midfield. Get a quality CM to play next to case and next year our bench can be rabiot/eriksen/iqbal type setup in midfield. Fred and mctominay have to have some sort of value in the market to help our budget.

 

[Dannn411]

He's literally been Juventus's best performer this season

So why is he available on a free and why would a player supposedly in his prime be willing to take a paycut?

 

[Cassidy]

So why is he available on a free and why would a player supposedly in his prime be willing to take a paycut?

Because he doesn't want to stay at Juve, who said he is taking a paycut?

 

[JPRouve]

So why is he available on a free and why would a player supposedly in his prime be willing to take a paycut?

Juventus are skint and the short term prospects aren't promising. Also he is a free agent there is no paycut involved anymore.

 

[ForeverRed1]

Yeah my thoughts too

People are freaking about the links to him.. but what if he’s not the only midfielder we’re looking at this summer. We could easily sell a couple of our current midfield and upgrade on all of them.

 

[King Kendrick]

I am in favor of adding technicians to our midfield but how is Ceballos even close to be a target over Rabiot? Ceballos has never been a starter or even threatened a starter in his career, he will be 27 years old and has basically been an afterthought everywhere he has played since he left Betis. He is typically the type of 27 years old players that we shouldn't sign, you either sign a young player or an established starter.

I believe his style suits our needs and doesn’t kick up a fuss being a squad player, which we desperately need. By all accounts we’re signing an 8 already this summer, so it’s not like he is coming in to be the answer, just raise the technical baseline. Plus, he can play out wide if necessary as a Mata-ish wide playmaker.

 

[Cassidy]

I believe his style suits our needs and doesn’t kick up a fuss being a squad player, which we desperately need. By all accounts we’re signing an 8 already this summer, so it’s not like he is coming in to be the answer, just raise the technical baseline. Plus, he can play out wide if necessary as a Mata-ish wide playmaker.

Do you remember him at Arsenal? He was rubbish
Sayng that though, we should sign more than 1 CM this season and offload 3/4

 

[MackRobinson]

He’s an unwanted CB for Manchester United. We aren’t Southampton. The reason for him not being good enough for us doesn’t mean he’s not the best player for a West Ham.

I’m sure you are aware of the level gap in football.

The gap in football doesn't mean you gladly overpay for a larger club's wantaways.

If you honestly think West Ham would spend £30m on a 30-year-old Maguire (who is on a downward trajectory and they have no chance of getting significant value for) then I don't know what else to tell you.

Maguire the best player on West Ham?

 

[Dannn411]

Because he doesn't want to stay at Juve, who said he is taking a paycut?

The paycut thing comes from another poster who said our offer to him last year was a significant paycut compared to his Juve salary. If Rabiot is in his prime and was the best midfielder this year at one of the top clubs in the world. Why on earth would he accept our offer? I would expect him to have his pick of a few peetty solid clubs. And if he is not going to accept a slash in his Juve wages, then it would mean that we would have to pay him at least what he made at Juve which makes little sense to me.

 

[King Kendrick]

We need more than one profile of midfielder which is why Rabiot on a free would be a good signing. Or did you not realise that squad depth and drop in quality was a major issue this season?

Which is why I said we’re going to keep Fred to have that profile. Could we upgrade on Fred’s profile with Rabiot? Absolutely. But unless both McFred leave, we can’t have 2 high action 8s in the squad who prefer receiving than progressing. At least we can rejigger the lineup with Dani more than AR, which is what I’m expecting as we sign at the very least an 8 and hopefully a Case understudy as well.

 

[JPRouve]

I believe his style suits our needs and doesn’t kick up a fuss being a squad player, which we desperately need. By all accounts we’re signing an 8 already this summer, so it’s not like he is coming in to be the answer, just raise the technical baseline. Plus, he can play out wide if necessary as a Mata-ish wide playmaker.

You have higher opinion of Ceballos than I have.

 

[Abraxas]

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This corresponds with what I was thinking about players EtH is mentioning that are now more keen to arrive at OT.

I wasn't his biggest fan historically, but he's had a cracking season and a free transfer is hard to pass up. It would give us so much more potential in the market to get someone who does upgrade our squad, probably even the first XI for just a hefty salary.

 

[King Kendrick]

You have higher opinion of Ceballos than I have.

It’s more beggars can’t be choosers tbh didn’t realize I’d have to fight for more life defending him, which is not a hill I am willing to die on. If we’re signing another mid for free on top of the Case/Eriksen upgrade/understudy signings that are hopefully coming, I’d prefer a cheap technical option and he fits the outline of the ideal 8 if you squint.

 

[Cassidy]

Which is why I said we’re going to keep Fred to have that profile. Could we upgrade on Fred’s profile with Rabiot? Absolutely. But unless both McFred leave, we can’t have 2 high action 8s in the squad who prefer receiving than progressing. At least we can rejigger the lineup with Dani more than AR, which is what I’m expecting as we sign at the very least an 8 and hopefully a Case understudy as well.

Rabiot is better than Fred and also plays both 6 and 8 well, you have the players profile confused

 

[Castia]

With so much uncertainty around the club I wouldn’t be surprised if ETH is really pushing for Rabiot with him being a free transfer

 

[King Kendrick]

Rabiot is better than Fred and also plays both 6 and 8 well, you have the players profile confused

He can play as the 6, but he was better for Juve this season in a more Sabitzer type role. Whether you want to argue that makes him an 8 or a 10, have at it. I really don’t want to argue over 2 players who hopefully will just be rotational options but upgrades over what we currently have assuming signings at the 6 and 8