Serie A CEO responds to Rabiot’s comments: “He should have respect for the money he earns”

The Serie A CEO Luigi De Siervo has hit back at Adrien Rabiot’s comments regarding AC Milan’s game against Como being moved to Australia.

Earlier in the week, it was announced that UEFA have given their approval for Milan to play Como in Perth. San Siro is unusable due to the Winter Olympics being on and so an alternative venue was sought out, with the Optus Stadium being chosen.

De Siervo spoke to ANSA (via Calciomercato.com) outside the League Clubs’ Assembly which is taking place at the Stadio Olimpico, and he was asked about what Rabiot said.

“Rabiot forgets, like all footballers who earn millions of euros, that they are paid to do something, that is, play football. He should have respect for the money he earns and support his employer more, that is, Milan, who accepted and pushed for this match to be played abroad,” he said.

“The players’ health is a fundamental element, we’re fighting to make this thing logical. We’re talking about something complicated, but not impossible. We’re trying to do it harmoniously, especially if you think of it as an exceptional event.

“The organisational challenge is complicated, the flight hours are long, but you’re traveling business class to the other side of the world, something the teams do regularly.

” Top players, who earn salaries commensurate with the effort they put in, should understand better than others that this is a sacrifice that can be made.”

What Rabiot said

Rabiot spoke to Le Figaro while away with the French national team and he was asked about playing a game on the other side of the world, expressing a negative opinion on things.

“I was surprised when I learned that Milan and I will be playing a Serie A match against Como… in Australia! It’s completely crazy. But these are financial agreements to give visibility to the championship, things that are beyond us.

“There’s a lot of talk about schedules and player health, but this all seems truly absurd. It’s crazy to travel so many miles for a match between two Italian teams in Australia. We have to adapt, as always.”