Rome (AFP)
French Juventus midfielder Adrien Rabiot returned to Turin on Wednesday evening, a few hours after reacting with irony to an article in the Italian daily La Stampa which mentioned the player's "personal strike" on Tuesday.
Several Italian sports media have published photos of the former Paris SG player back in Piedmont. He had left to settle on the Côte d'Azur after the start of confinement in Italy.
Rabiot was the last Juventus foreign player with Argentinian Gonzalo Higuain not to have joined Italy, while individual training has been allowed since May 4.
These are optional and all of the Italian sports media estimated on Wednesday that Rabiot had technically not broken any rules.
But his choice had still given rise to some questions and, on Tuesday, the general daily La Stampa had devoted an article to it, writing that the Frenchman "had stayed in his villa on the Côte d'Azur without any justification or authorization".
The daily also claimed that the player thus intended to protest against the agreement found within the Piedmontese club on a reduction in wages in order to moderate the impact of the pandemic of new coronavirus on its finances.
"This is why Rabiot continues his personal strike," said La Stampa.
Wednesday on Instagram, the French had reacted ironically to this article.
"When you realize it was your last day of ... STRIKE!" Wrote Rabiot, a message accompanied by two hilarious emojis and a picture of him looking melancholy.
Shortly after, he posted a new image, the design of a small vial on which is written "Newspapers-TV-Press, do not swallow".
Contacted Tuesday by AFP, Juventus did not wish to comment on this case.
Most foreign Serie A players have now returned to Italy, like Cristiano Ronaldo, who returned on May 4, or Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who returned to Milan on Monday.
At Juventus, therefore, is now missing only Gonzalo Higuain, who is in Argentina.
Rabiot arrived at the start of the season at Juventus, free at the end of his contract with Paris SG. He had a difficult season in Italy, with many very neutral performances.
© 2020 AFP