MANCHESTER UNITED have pulled the plug on a move for Juventus midfielder Adrien Rabiot over his mum’s excessive wage demands.
SunSport understands United have called off the £15million deal after his mother and agent Veronique demanded a pay packet for her son similar to that of £240,000-a-week high earner Bruno Fernandes.
It had appeared Rabiot, 27, was destined for Old Trafford with United football director John Murtough visiting Turin to thrash out terms.
The Frenchman’s mum is known to be a tough negotiator.
United may now move for £50m-rated Real Madrid midfielder Casemiro.
The Brazilian, 30, has helped Real win FIVE Champions Leagues and three LaLiga titles.
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United are desperate to add midfielders to their squad with current duo Scott McTominay and Fred coming under fire for their performances.
Ten Hag’s top target was Barcelona’s Frenkie de Jong, but despite agreeing a fee with the Spaniards, the Dutchman’s reluctance to join looks to have torpedoed the deal.
The Rabiot development puts United’s transfer window into further disarray.
They are also dealing with Cristiano Ronaldo’s future, with Erik ten Hag wanting the saga sorted NOW after accepting Manchester United will be better off without him.
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Boss Ten Hag is now ready to grant the forward’s wish to leave in an episode that has rumbled on all summer.
But the 37-year-old will be short on offers from teams in the Champions League, with just over two weeks of the transfer window remaining.
SunSport exclusively revealed last week that a number of players had grown angry at the way Ron was trying to force his way out.
They claimed his foul mood was affecting the spirit in the camp.
Ten Hag also slammed the player’s premature exit from a pre-season game as “unacceptable”.
The manager wanted to believe Ronaldo could change and started him at Brentford on Saturday in the hope of a morale-boosting victory.
But the team crashed to a humiliating 4-0 defeat, with Ron and the Dutchman ignoring each other at full-time.
The Portuguese stormed off at the end and had words with coach Steve McClaren.
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The club’s problem is they have no firm offers and they are not willing to rip up his contract and let him leave on a free.
His agent Jorge Mendes has told the board he has a deal with a club — but they have to name their price. So far the hierarchy has been unwilling to do that.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
