From Paris to Roma: Rabiot is a great talent but he is no Paul Pogba

The young midfielder is on the verge of joining Roma, but he has already caused huge controversy in his short career after being frozen out at PSG By Robin BairnerFollowing a drawn-out saga that has lasted since the summer, Adrien Rabiot’s move from Paris Saint-Germain to Roma seems a formality. The only question is whether the transfer goes through in January or July. Rabiot, out of contract next summer, will go to the Stadio Olimpico as one of French football’s great hopes - yet he will depart his home nation with his reputation tarnished and with much to prove. For a 19-year-old, he is a remarkably complete player, yet his ability is matched by his ego. It is this attitude that has left him a virtual outcast at PSG, where he has not even appeared in the first-team squad this season. The situation is reminiscent of Paul Pogba’s at Manchester United. “Manchester United is a big club but you have to think about yourself,” Pogba told the BBC in June, claiming he was shown a lack of “respect” by former boss Alex Ferguson. “You have to play. The coach told me there would be space to play, but I wasn't playing.” When the Juventus star levered his way out of Old Trafford, he was but a precocious teenager with seven senior appearances under his belt. Rabiot is also 19 and appears to share similar gripes to his fellow central midfielder.