PSG contract rebel Rabiot hopes to end forced exile

Pulse News Agency International by AFP

January 21, 2019 5:27 PM

Contract rebel Adrien Rabiot is hoping to force Paris Saint-Germain to allow him to train with the first-team squad again amid ongoing uncertainty about his future at the French club.

Adrien Rabiot at a PSG training session - he has been frozen out by the club after refusing to sign a new contract

The 23-year-old French international midfielder has not played for PSG since early December and has been ordered to train with the reserves after failing to agree a new contract.

His existing deal expires at the end of the season and Rabiot has been strongly linked with a move to Barcelona, either for free in the summer, or even before the January transfer window closes.

The French league (LFP) confirmed on Monday that Rabiot has taken the matter to their legal committee, claiming that PSG's decision to banish him goes against the "professional footballer's charter".

That charter only allows for players to be ordered to train apart "on a temporary basis" and for "exclusively sporting reasons".

Rabiot is reportedly happy to stay at PSG for the remainder of the campaign before moving to La Liga.

His enforced absence comes at a time when PSG are short of options in midfield and have just lost Italian playmaker Marco Verratti to an ankle injury.

With the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie against Manchester United just three weeks away, PSG desperately need to bring in reinforcements before the January window shuts.

"I respect the club's decision and I can understand it," said coach Thomas Tuchel when asked about Rabiot's absence last week.

"I need to focus on my team, on who is available."

Hatem Ben Arfa was also frozen out and ordered to train with the PSG reserves last season. He joined Rennes at the start of this campaign.

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Pulse News Agency International by AFP