Milan, Rabiot: Allegri ‘called me’ after Marseille incident, ‘nice to see’ Rowe again

Adrien Rabiot admits that reuniting with Massimiliano Allegri at Milan played a significant role in his transfer decision this summer, but insists that it will be ‘nice’ to see Jonathan Rowe again: ‘Nothing special happened.’

Rabiot, a new Milan summer signing, was unveiled at a press conference on Friday.

The French midfielder completed a permanent €10m move from Marseille on deadline day.

PARIS, FRANCE – MARCH 23: Adrian Rabiot of France looks on before the UEFA Nations League Quarterfinal Leg Two match between Croatia and France at Stade de France on March 23, 2025 in Paris, France. (Photo by Aurelien Meunier/Getty Images)

“I’m ready and fit. I’m here to help. If the coach puts me on the pitch, I’ll do everything I can to help the team win,” he said.

Rabiot trained with Milan for the first time on Thursday, reuniting with his former Juventus coach Allegri.

“We’ve shared a lot. I felt comfortable with him right away at Juventus. He has the right mentality to win,” Rabiot said via Milannews.

“He lives for football, just like me. We have a great connection; even after he left Juventus, we kept talking, and we even met up. He’s a great person, besides being a coach.

“I had good feelings; it’s a group that wants to win and has young players who are eager to learn,” Rabiot continued.

“We have an experienced coach. I immediately felt comfortable in training; the environment is positive, and I found great openness from everyone. They’ve all been kind, even with my family.”

Apparently, Rabiot was not planning to leave Marseille after just one season at the club, but a scuffle with Rowe in the French club’s dressing room in August changed his fate.

“Everything happened in the final days of the transfer window. I spoke with Allegri when he arrived at Milan, but I still had a contract with Marseille,” Rabiot said.

“Then, the coach called me again after what happened in Marseille. He explained the project to me, and in the end, everything went quickly. We managed to close the deal.”

Rabiot has also reunited with other familiar faces, such as Mike Maignan.

BERGAMO, ITALY – DECEMBER 06: Mike Maignan of AC Milan in action during the Serie A match between Atalanta and AC Milan at Gewiss Stadium on December 06, 2024 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Giuseppe Cottini/Getty Images)

“Maignan spoke well of Milan. Theo also told me I’d feel good because it’s a big family. Allegri has already worked here and is very attached to this club.

“I wouldn’t say they convinced me, because we are talking about a big club anyway, but it’s important to get feedback from those who are here or have been here. I’m sure I made the right choice.”

Rabiot suggested that not playing in any European competition won’t be an issue.

“Playing for Milan is more important than playing in the Champions League with teams that can’t aim to win or go far,” he added.

“I preferred to come here with the coach’s project and have a strong team that can fight for the Champions League qualification. I could have joined other Champions League clubs, but Allegri’s project convinced me to come here.”

Milan host Bologna at San Siro on Sunday; will Rabiot start against the Rossoblu?

“He hasn’t told me anything yet. Obviously, I hope so, but it’s the coach’s decision,” the midfielder replied, smiling.

The game against Bologna will see Rabiot and Rowe face each other for the first time since leaving Marseille.

“There’s nothing special about him,” Rabiot explained.

“We texted each other after he went to Bologna and I came to Milan. We’ll see each other on Sunday at San Siro. It’ll be nice to see him. He’s a good guy. What happened in Marseille is something that could happen anywhere, but it didn’t change our relationship. I’ll be happy to see him, and I’m sure he’ll feel the same.

“We’ve moved past that episode. We’ve talked about other things, too. I’m happy to see him again on Sunday. I have no regrets; these things can happen. Life can change quickly, and I think I left good memories in Marseille.”

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