OM — Adrien Rabiot, a shocking exit caught between confusion and relief

From leader to sudden departure

Who would have believed it three weeks ago? Adrien Rabiot is no longer an OM player. Signed on a free after leaving Juventus, the former PSG midfielder shocked everyone when he chose Marseille. Quickly, he became a central piece of Roberto De Zerbi’s squad, helping secure Champions League qualification. A bold gamble that paid off… until a turbulent August.

The turning point: the Rennes brawl

Everything unraveled after the defeat against Rennes on the opening day of Ligue 1. Rabiot, who initially tried to calm an altercation between Rulli and Rowe, ended up in a fight with Jonathan Rowe. The incident shocked the club, with Pablo Longoria describing it as “unprecedented violence,” and both players were suspended.

Soon after, Véronique Rabiot — Adrien’s mother and agent — went public, accusing OM of using the situation as an excuse to sell her son, who was out of contract in 2026. The saga spiraled out of control, and the relationship between the Rabiot camp and the club broke beyond repair.

Milan, the way out

While Galatasaray made an approach, it was AC Milan who ultimately sealed the deal. Rabiot was convinced by the return of Massimiliano Allegri, his former coach at Juventus. The transfer closed at €10M, with a contract until 2028. The 30-year-old midfielder joins a high-profile squad featuring Luka Modric and Youssouf Fofana. After just one year at OM, he returns to Serie A, a league he knows inside out.

Between misunderstanding and relief

According to Le Parisien, a close source said Rabiot felt “relieved the saga is over,” but above all confused:

“Adrien didn’t understand how things escalated so quickly. He wasn’t the one who started the fight. He tried to calm things down, but it got out of hand.”

Not deep anger — more a sense of disbelief. Rabiot had been in talks to extend his deal with OM and even told those close to him that he wanted to “wait and see how things unfolded” before making a decision. Instead, everything ended on September 1st.

A chapter closes at OM

For Marseille, it’s a heavy loss. A key leader leaves at a time when the team is already struggling since mid-August. Rabiot departs with a mixed legacy: a player who earned the Vélodrome’s respect through his performances, but whose exit turned into a fiasco.

The club now faces the challenge of rebuilding its midfield and moving forward without him, while trying to stabilize a squad already shaken by a hectic transfer window.

A departure that leaves scars

Adrien Rabiot leaves with a mix of regret and relief. Milan awaits, Allegri welcomes him back, and OM must turn the page. For supporters, the feelings are raw: frustration, disappointment, resignation. Another fiery chapter in Marseille’s story.