Manchester United must avoid giving Erik ten Hag a transfer he wants for a second time

Former football director John Murtough clocked up the air miles in the summer of 2022. Murtough flew to Barcelona and Turin to discuss Manchester United transfers, but those talks were in vain and neither Frenkie de Jong nor Adrien Rabiot were signed.

After growing frustrated with a lack of progress in talks to sign De Jong, attention was turned to Rabiot and a £15million fee rising to £20m was agreed with Juventus, but the move collapsed and sources indicated that was due to the Frenchman's ‘obscene’ salary demands.

Rabiot is represented by his mother, Veronique, who has a reputation for an uncompromising approach to negotiations over her son's future and weekly earnings.

"Once it was clear I would not go to United, I focused straight back on Juventus to give everything I had," Rabiot told ESPN in November 2022. "I didn't want people to doubt my commitment or to think that because I could have left for United, I would not care anymore.

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"I am out of contract in June, and I don't want people to think that I am not committed or invested at Juventus this season. I feel attracted by the football, by the Premier League itself and its super competitive nature. I loved my time there, even if I was young.

"I liked the culture and the life; my family liked it too. I am not indifferent to playing in England, but there will be many options to consider. I have not spoken with Juve about the future."

Rabiot signed a one-year contract extension with Juventus last summer, but that deal expired at the end of last month and the player has turned down the Italian's fresh proposal.