Juventus director Fabio Paratici has ruled out a departure for Adrien Rabiot this month, amid reports that Everton are interested in the midfielder.
The Frenchman had been linked with a departure from the Serie A club this month, having been in and out of the team in Turin this season so far.
Everton are in desperate need to strengthen their midfield options, and Rabiot was believed to be high on Carlo Ancelotti’s wish list.
The Italian coach had Rabiot at Paris Saint-Germain, and was reportedly keen on reuniting with the 24-year old at Goodison Park.
However, Paratici has denied that either of Emre Can or Rabiot will be allowed to leave the club in January. As reported by Calciomercato, Paratici said:
Rabiot arrived here after not playing for eight months. It’s only natural on a physical level he should take time to adapt. He paid the price for that, but he has done well when used.
We are confident, he is an important player and a guarantee for Juve, not a question mark or a doubt. We have an important squad, with a lot of competition for places, and that’s how it should be at this level.
Meanwhile Rabiot himself has also denied that he could look to leave the Italian champions, with Tuttomercato (via Liverpool Echo) reporting him as saying:
My future? It will still be here. The Italian championship is not easy, but no championship is, I am adapting as I assimilate the characteristics of the tournament.
It is true that 2019 was a very good year for me, I worked a lot, I landed at Juventus and I think this 2020 can be positive.
I am physically well, I follow the job that the coach makes us and I feel good here.
I am at the team’s disposal, the side of the field on which to play is not a problem, on the right I can re-enter on the left while on the left I get better shooting, but it is important to be useful to the cause.
Read Everton Verdict
With Juventus having signed a highly rated midfielder for nothing in the summer, it was always going to take something extraordinary for the club to consider letting Rabiot go.
At the very least, Everton would have required Rabiot to push for a move to realistically see any movement over a deal, and while that had initially seemed unlikely, it has now been confirmed that Rabiot is comfortable and happy to remain in Turin.
Everton will now be forced to turn their attention towards other midfield targets, as they look to increase competition and squad depth in that area at Goodison Park. Perhaps we could see more emphasis on links to James Rodriguez, with Everton said to be keen on the Colombian.
The Toffees now have a run of games against beatable teams in the Premier League, and the faster they can get their transfer business done, the more chance they have of taking maximum points in their fixtures coming up throughout this month.
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