Juventus midfielder Adrien Rabiot is ‘the most important player for France after Kylian Mbappé at the World Cup,’ claims coach Alberto Zaccheroni.
Les Bleus have booked their place in the semi-finals and will go head-to-head with Morocco on Wednesday.
The star men so far have been Mbappé and Milan veteran striker Olivier Giroud, while Antoine Griezmann provided three assists in five games.
However, former Milan, Inter and Japan national team coach Zaccheroni believes one figure has been under-estimated in the tournament.
“I don’t understand why in Italy there is so little love for Rabiot,” Zaccheroni told Radio 24.
“He is having an incredible World Cup. The Juventus midfielder is the most important player for France at this tournament after Mbappé.”
The 27-year-old has certainly been active, contributing a goal and an assist in five games in Qatar.
His future is up in the air, as his contract with Juventus only runs to the end of the season and Rabiot already dropped several hints that he intends to play in the Premier League.
Manchester United had agreed a transfer fee with Juve over the summer, but the club refused to meet his wage demands of €10m per season.
That salary is also why a renewal in Turin is increasingly unlikely.
More like Giroud. He has done the world a great service by dumping out Chipland FC who always feel they are going to win before a ball has even been kicked.