CM: Rabiot could have joined Inter twice before Milan including in summer – the background

Adrien Rabiot returned to full training on Tuesday which is great news for AC Milan, but he could have actually been a derby opponent.

As Calciomercato.com report, Rabiot’s return is huge for Massimiliano Allegri, even if we need to see whether he will be an immediate starter after over a month of inactivity or rather ready to contribute from the bench.

Having suffered a troubling muscular injury during the penultimate international break, Rabiot was forced to miss the next five Serie A matches against Fiorentina, Pisa, Atalanta, Roma and Parma.

The numbers show the average points per game dropping from 2.6 to 1.8 per match, and six goals conceded as opposed to one with the Frenchman. His importance in both phases, therefore, is evident.

What might have been

What became a major transfer opportunity for Milan at the end of August (at €10m, including bonuses) could have been a chance for Inter as well. During the period of the complete rift with Olympique Marseille, he was also offered to the Nerazzurri by his entourage.

Financial restrictions imposed by the Oaktree fund and the decision to invest in more promising players then led Inter down other paths (Andy Diouf, above all). So, Rabiot was able to reunite with Allegri.

Back in the summer of 2017, when Walter Sabatini and Piero Ausilio were at the helm for the Nerazzurri, the then-owners Suning considered the possibility of snatching him from Paris Saint-Germain, but were unable to find the right fit in terms of financial terms.