Juventus midfielder Adrien Rabiot says he likes the nickname the fans have given him and revealed he often speaks about the club with Dider Deschamps. Rabiot enjoyed his best career season to date with the Bianconeri in the 2022-23 campaign, scoring 11 goals in all competitions. Speaking with the clubs official Twitch channel, the Frenchman answered fans questions about his time in Turin, his decision to extend his contract and what he can pass on to the younger players:
Do you like the nickname “crazy horse”?
“Yes I like my nickname. I like the horse very much, because it is a strong animal, always running, also smart.”
Who convinced you to stay?
“Obviously the coach cared a lot about me staying and talked to me a lot this year. Even on vacation he sent me many messages. Then also some teammates. I talked to Manna, and Cherubini was extraordinary. Everyone showed me a lot of love. So especially the coach, but also the others have shown me a lot of love.”
Was the affection of the fans important to your choice?
“The fans’ support was very important. Then they always sent me nice messages. This was an important element in my choice. I always stop at Continassa to take pictures and talk a little with the fans. For me it is important to have a good relationship with the fans. We are all together, defending the same colours. For the fans to feel closer to us as players is important.”
Did you also think about Euro 2024 in your choice?
“Of course it is important, I also took into consideration not knowing what is elsewhere.”
Do you play better with your hair up or untied?
“I like it better to have my hair tied up to play.”
Have goals changed the judgments about you?
“I scored a lot of goals this year and I like that. I had a good season two years ago as well, but it changed the number of goals and assists. Football is not only about goals and assists. I say that a lot.”
Can you be a leader for the younger ones or the new players like Weah?
“After 4 years here, I am among the older ones, I can say that. In my career, 5 years in a club is a lot. Now I have a more different role, that’s also why the club wanted me to help the younger players, set an example because we have so many young players. I talked to Timothy, I told him we work hard here, we want to win. He is a good guy, he understood where he came, so all young people have to understand that here you have to work to grow. With him, we speak French, he speaks French well, but he wants to learn Italian.”
Initially could you understand the coach’s accent?
“At first it was a little difficult, now it’s better.”
Did you say anything in particular to Weah?
“I had little time to talk to Timothy because he arrived a few days ago, but we will talk later. I told him that it is a special club here, but even the young players coming back from loans have understood that and have seen that there is a lot of pressure here. Every game you have to win it, there are pressures that help you grow. For a player, Juventus is an important step in terms of work and mentality.”
Do you talk about Juve with Deschamps?
“Yes, we have a very good relationship. For him Juventus is a top club, we often talk about Juve. He also likes hard work, so he knows what it means to work and play for Juventus, the importance of wearing this jersey. We have this in common.”
Your childhood dream?
“I always wanted to be a football player. I thought about the national team, playing for my country, that is an incredible thing for me. At the club level I didn’t have a particular club in mind, but I wanted to get to the top, give 100 percent. I would love to win the Champions League. It’s something I’ve wanted since childhood, I’ll do everything to get there. Maybe with Juventus.”
Do you prefer playing on the right or left side?
“I like playing on the left better, things come more naturally. In the past I’ve also played right sided mez’ala, I’m comfortable with that. It doesn’t change that much.”
What has Coach Allegri been able to pass on to you differently?
“The coach has understood who I am and what I can give on the field. He also gives me this freedom, he pushed me so much from the beginning to score goals even in training. He has always told me this. He still tells me that today. For me it was important he gave me the confidence to always keep going, keep playing from game to game and have these numbers. He is an incredible coach for me, even with young players he takes the time to explain things. That’s why it’s very important.”
Has Allegri complimented your many goals this season?
“He knows what I can do. When I do good things he doesn’t tell me you did well, in fact he tells me you could have done something more. I like that. I don’t need a coach who tells me good things all the time, I prefer to have a coach who pushes me to do more. I have confidence in myself. I get along well with him.”
How come you chose jersey number 25?
“There is no particular story. At PSG there were not so many free numbers. I started with 31, it was a number for young people. After 25 was free so I took it and then I never left it. I have done my whole career until today with this number, I am very attached to it. Aren’t you going to change it? No no, you can go and get my jersey.”
Which Juventus jersey do you like best?
“The black and white one, but the other jersey is nice too. Bianconera with yellow I like very much.”
Who have you bonded the most with?
“I have bonded a lot with Cuadrado. I also get along well with the younger ones like Iling and we talk a lot. I have a good relationship with all the players and we are a good group.”
Do you have a feeling of revenge in the team?
“The last two seasons without trophies have been difficult. I came here to win. Juventus is a great club that has always won and will win in the future as well. Two years without trophies is a lot for a club like Juve. The goal this year is to win, I also stayed for this: to drag the team to win the championship, cup. I want to take Juventus back to where it deserves to be. Then I felt my work here was not finished. I got here, we were playing Champions and winning the Scudetto, so I want to come back to these emotions.”
Are you happy to be touring the U.S.?
“I am happy, we are all happy to go to America to work well and do the work we have to do. Then we come back for the championship, I can’t wait to start the season. We are pumped up for the new season, we are ready to give everything. We hope to have all the support for the team, because you fans are important to us. We have to push in the same direction all together.”
Is Juventus home for you?
“Home means that I am very comfortable here, I feel good here. When you go elsewhere you don’t know what you can find. Here I found an environment I like, the people here on and off the field are extraordinary. It was a choice from the heart and I didn’t want to leave this. The work is not finished here for me, there are so many things to do, that we have to improve. I think I can still grow. For these reasons I stayed at Juventus.”
