Paris-Saint Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi has warned Adrien Rabiot he will not be allowed to depart the Parc des Princes in the January window.
The 22-year-old asked the club to agree to a January loan after finding himself struggling for game time in Laurent Blanc’s star-studded midfield, making just one Champions League start this season.
Arsenal have scouted the midfielder and may be open to a short-term deal as they look to overcome their midfield injury crisis.
Fans did not take kindly to Rabiot’s attempts to engineer a departure and booed him during a match against Shakhtar Donetsk. His club were no less eager to see the midfielder depart, and Al-Khelaifi has confirmed he will not sanction a departure midway through the campaign.
He told Le Figaro: “I was very disappointed -- I said it to his face. His statements are unacceptable. I didn't appreciate at all that he declared that a loan would be a Christmas present. It's a complete lack of respect towards his first club who did so much for him.
“He's 20 years old, plays regularly in a big team. He's come through the youth academy -- the club has given him a lot. I'll never accept that he considers himself more important than the club.”
This month’s links with Arsenal are the latest in a long-running saga between PSG and Rabiot who, despite being rated as one of Europe’s finest young midfielders, has struggled to replace the likes of Marco Verratti and Blaise Matuidi in the France side.
Arsenal's midfield targets for January
However Al-Khelaifi refused to be held to ransom by the midfielder, adding: “The club will always be more important than any player.
“He's a big talent. My dream is that he might become captain of PSG one day. But he has to respect the club, the coach and his teammates.”
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“He's part of the PSG family and he should respect it. He understood the message. He'll be there at 100 per cent in January.”
Blanc had also been critical of Rabiot’s loan request, accusing his player of showing “a lack of respect”.
