Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Adrien Rabiot, shocked many when he insisted to be removed from the reserves list following the russia 2018 world Cup.
According to France manager Didier Deschamps he has admitted he is surprised and shocked at the behaviour of one of the country’s stars after he was snubbed a place in Les Bleus’ 23-man FIFA World Cup squad.
The PSG midfielder, who was named on the standby list for the competition, when he emailed his national team coach telling him he would not “be able to follow the training programme” set out for him and he wanted to be taken off the list.
In his statement manager Deschamps said, “It was not a letter sent, it was an email that arrived Monday, late afternoon.”
He further added, “I became aware of its content. Of course, Adrien signed it. I called him to have a confirmation that it was he who had sent this email. He did not answer me. I got confirmation from my manager. In the process, I warned my president of the content. I also informed the president of PSG because he is a PSG player.
“I was surprised, of course. I can understand the disappointment, the immense frustration, but to take such a position… we are talking about a young player who, for a while, was in the French group. He excludes himself from the team.
“I dare to hope that through some decisions like this it will allow him to mature, to reflect. I am convinced that he made a huge mistake in taking such a position.
“He refuses his status as a reservist, to follow a programme, and if there was a problem of being called as a substitute. It is his decision he assumes.”
Rabiot made 49 appearances in all competitions for PSG in the 2017/18 season, helping Les Parisiens claim a domestic treble along the way.