Al-Nassr is reportedly eyeing a move for Manchester United target Adrien Rabiot, with the Saudi Pro League side preparing a lucrative €20 million contract offer.
Rabiot, 28, has been a free agent since his contract with Juventus expired in June, attracting interest from several European clubs. However, the French midfielder has yet to secure his next destination. According to Corriere dello Sport, Al-Nassr has emerged as a serious contender, offering an enticing wage package of around €20 million (£17m/$22m) per season.
As with all of Rabiot’s career decisions, the negotiations are being led by his mother, Veronique Rabiot, who also serves as his agent. It remains uncertain whether the allure of a move to Saudi Arabia is appealing to Rabiot at this point in his career. Cristiano Ronaldo, Rabiot’s former teammate at Juventus, could play a pivotal role in swaying the Frenchman toward Riyadh, with the Portuguese star reportedly eager for the reunion.
However, one potential challenge in the negotiations is the Saudi Pro League’s foreign player quota. Since December, the league has enforced a limit of ten foreign players per team, which may pose complications for Al-Nassr’s plans to sign Rabiot. There are, however, suggestions that an annual exemption could be applied to accommodate the French international.
A key factor in Rabiot’s decision will likely be the potential impact on his status within the French national team. Nevertheless, the recent example of N’Golo Kanté, who joined Al-Ittihad earlier this year, indicates that playing in the Saudi Pro League may not necessarily jeopardize a player’s international career. Kanté was included in France’s squad for Euro 2024, proving that a move to Saudi Arabia does not automatically exclude players from competing at the highest level.
Rabiot could follow a similar trajectory, reaping the financial rewards of playing in Saudi Arabia while maintaining his eligibility for the French national team.
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